H5--NRLF 


$B   24*}    347 


SLEUTH'S     OWN 


L3B. 


,0  DENTS. 


ONDER  JACK, 

THE    DETECTIVE; 


OK, 


HE    WITCH    OF    MANHATTAN. 


9.  s.  OOILV 


WONDER  JACK, 


THE   DETECTIVE; 


OR 


The  Witch  of  Manhattan. 


By  OLD  SLEUTH. 


Copyright,  1894,  by  Parlor  Car  Publishing  Company. 
All  Rights  Reserved. 


NEW   YORK: 

J.  S.  OGILVIE   PT  I'ANY, 

67  ROSE  STI .-, 


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WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN; 


OR, 


WONDER  JACK,  THE  DETECTIVE. 


CHAPTER   I. 

"HELLO,  sis!  what's  the  matter?" 

A  little  girl  one  rainy  night  sat  crouched  on  the  coping 
of  an  iron  rail  on  a  side  street  leading  from  the  Bowery. 
She  was  weeping  and  appeared  in  great  distress  when  a 
street  gamin  camo  along  and  addressed  the  inquiry  with 
which  we  open  our  narrative,  and  in  sobbing  tones  sho 
answer*- 1 : 

"I  am  hungry  and  mamma  is  hungry." 

The  gamin  looked  upon  her  pale  face,  illuminated  by  a 
pair  of  large  blue  » 

"So  you  are  hungry  and  mamma  is  hungry?" 

«  Yes." 

"Well,  you  wait  here  for  a  few  moments  and  I  will  get 

you  something  to  eat.     You  bet,  no  one  can  cry  hungry 

'1   me  when  there  is  so  much   to  eat  lying  around 

The  lad  walked  away  and  started  up  the  Bowery  and 
iie  arrived  opposite  a  baker's  shop  and  on  the  counter 
tfas   a    pvat  pile   of   bread.     The    lad    peeped    around    ;i 
moment  furtively    and  then  stole  into  the  shop,  "lil": 
fat  l«af  of  hivad  and  dashed  out  just  as   (he  cry  aros< 

!'!"     Tin;  thii'f  didn't  stop; 
he   had   hid  the  lo;iL'   of   bre;ul  und.T   his   j;u-ket  ami 

<  >" 


6  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

away  like  the  wind.  He  turned  the  first  corner  and  was 
going  at  full  speed  when  suddenly  a  great  pair  of  arms 
were  stretched  out.  They  closed  and  the  lad  was  in  the 
grasp  of  a  "cop." 

"Aha!  Mister  little  ginger,  I've  got  you." 

The  lad  was  not  at  all  disconcerted,  but  answered  coolly; 

"Yes,  you've  got  me." 

"You've  been  stealing." 

"That's  what  I've  been  doing." 

"I'm  sorry,  lad;  I  hate  to  take  a  boy  in  for  stealing 
bread  these  hard  times,  but  law  is  law  and  stealing  is 
stealing." 

"You're  right,  cop,  but  come  with  me,  will  you?" 

« Go  with  you?" 

"Yes." 

"Where,  and  what  for?" 

"I  want  to  show  you  something." 

The  "cop"  was  an  old-timer  and  he  walked  with  the  lad 
around  the  square  until  he  arrived  at  the  spot  where  the 
little  girl  sat,  expectantly  awaiting  the  return  of  the  boy 
who  said  he  would  bring  her  something  to  eat. 

"Do  you  see  that  child,  cop?" 

"Yes." 

"  I  never  set  eyes  on  her  until  about  five  minutes  ago. 
She  was  crying.  I  asked  her  the  trouble  and  she  said  she 
was  hungry  and  mamma  is  hungry.  I  lifted  the  bread  for 
her.  Now  take  me  to  my  room." 

The  *'cop"  walked  up  to  the  girl  and  asked: 

"What's  the  matter,  sissy?" 

"I  am  hungry." 

"Where  do  you  live?" 

The  girl,  who  was  about  nine  years  old,  looked  up  in  the 
]( cop's"  face  with  her  lovely  blue  eyes  and  told  him  where 
she  lived. 

"And  have  you  nothing  to  eat  in  the  house?" 


Til  7  oh'  M  A  MI  AT  r AN.  7 

"We  haven't  hail  anything  to  oat  since  yesterday  noon." 

"  \Vliy  didn't  you  apply  to  some  of  Uio  charity  bureaus?** 
,   in   the  city  two  weeks,  sir.     We 
don't  know  where  to  apply." 

..u  havo  only  been  in  the  city  two  weeks?" 
68,  sir." 

'•'  Where  did  you  come  from?" 

"Down  on  Long  Island/' 

"And  you  have  no  money?" 

"Mamma  did  have  a  little  money.  She  paid  for  getting 
our  things  down  here  and  paid  the  rent,  and  she  was  out 
looking  for  work  a  week  ago  when  some  one  stole  all  her 
money." 

"  Why  did  you  come  to  the  city?" 

"My  father  was  a  sailor.  He  was  drowned  from  the 
schooner  six  months  ago  and  mamma  had  to  leave  town 
and  come  to  the  city." 

"W! 

"I  cannot  tell  you,  sir,  but  we  had  to  come." 

"Give  her  the  bread,  lad,"  said  the  oth'eer,  "and  let  her 
go  home.  I  will  look  into  her  case  to-morrow.  Where 
did  you  steal  the  bread?" 

The  lad  told  the  number  of  the  store  and  the  name  of 
the  own 

"  You  have  the  name  and  number  down  pretty  well." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"II«»w  is  that?" 

"Oh,  I  only  borrowed  the  bread.  I  intend  to  go  in 
3omti  tlav  and  ]-:iv  for  it." 

"  YI.U  needn't  bother  your  head,  lad,  1  will  stop  around 
and  pay  for  !  i 

;d  1  will  pay  you  T\e  got 

number." 

n've  ;/«!  iny  DUU 

;,  1  alvv;  I  am    a   tfiOti 


8  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"Don't  you  know  it's  wrong  to  steal  under  any  circum- 
stances?" 

"I  don't  know  much  about  it.     All  I  know  is  the  little 
girl  was  crying  and  hungry.     I  had  no  money  and  I  lifted 
the  bread,  that's  all." 
!     '  Do  you  think  it  right  to  steal  under  any  circumstances ?* 

I  suppose  not,  but  I  couldn't  help  it." 
"You  may  get  into  serious  trouble  some  day." 
"I  am  used  to  that." 
"Used  to  what?" 

"Trouble.     I  am  always  iu  trouble." 
"  Where  do  you  live?" 
"Everywhere." 
"Have  you  no  parents?" 
"Not  now." 

"Are  your  parents  dead?" 
"I  guess  so." 
"Don't  you  know?" 
"I  don't  know  anything  about  it." 
"Kow  long  have  you  lived  iu  New  York?" 
«I  don't  know." 

"You  must  know  something  about  yourself." 
^"All  I  know  is  I  used  to  live  with  an  old  woman.     Sho 
said   I  was  left  with  her  by  a  sailor  man  who  said  he  was 
my  father.     He  gave  her  some  money  and  said  when  he 
returned  from  sea  he  would  pay  her  big.     He  never  came 
back.     The  old  woman  told  me  this  the  night  before  sh( 
died.     I  reckon  I  was  ten  years  old  when  she  died  and  IV 
knocked  around  ever  since.     Never  had  no  home  since." 
"What  have  you  done  all  these  years?" 
"Anything  and  everything." 
"What  do  you  do  for  a  living?" 
"I  used  to  sell  papers." 
"What  do  you  do  now n" 
"Nothing." 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  * 

« Too  lazy  to  work?" 

"No." 

"Then  what  is  the  matter?" 

"I  am  a  victim,  that's  all.0 

"A  victim?" 

"Yes." 

"A  victim  of  what?" 

"A  lie." 

"Tell  me  all  about  it." 

"If  I  do  you'll  take  me  in." 

"No,  I  won't." 

"Honor  bright?" 

"Yes." 

"The  cops  are  looking  for  me." 

"  So  you  stole  before,  eh  ?    This  is  not  your  first  offense." 

"Yes,  it  is." 

"Then  why  are  the  cops  looking  for  you?" 

"Yon  won't  believe  me  if  I  tell  you  the  truth." 

"Yes,  I  will." 

"I'll  swear  to  tell  you  the  truth." 

"  That's  right,  do  so." 

"I  was  putting  up  one  night  in  a  ten-cent  lodging  house. 
A.n  old  man  came  there  one  night  who  looked  like  a  tramp, 
but  he  was  stuffed  with  money.  He  was  robbed  and  the 
clerk  of  the  lodging  house  had  me  arrested.  I  jumped  the 
pen  and  they've  been  chasing  me  ever  since." 

"How  long  ago  did  this  happen?" 

"A  mouth  ago." 

"Do  you  know  who  robbed  the  old  tramp?" 

"I've  my  suspicion." 

"Who  did  it?" 

"The  clerk  who  had  me  arrested." 

The  policeman  was  thoughtful  a  moment  and  then  saidt 

"  You've  got  my  number'"" 

"Yes." 


10  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"Will  you  see  me  again  some  day?" 

"Mebbel  will.-' 

"Promise." 

"Can't." 

"Why  not?" 

"Mebbe  I'm  going  away." 

"Where?" 

"To  sea.  My  dad  was  a  sailor,  I  reckon,  and  I've  got 
an  idea  I'll  follow  his  profession." 

"  How  old  are  you  ?" 

"I  don't  know  exactly.  I  reckon  I  am  somewhere 
around  fourteen." 

"And  you  have  really  told  me  the  truth?" 

"  Yes,  I  have,  and " 

The  gamin  did  not  have  a  chance  to  finish  his  remark. 
A  man  suddenly  leaped  upon  him,  exclaiming: 

"You  slippery  eel,  I've  got  you  at  last!" 

"Not  yet,"  came  the  answer  quickly,  and  the  lad  slipped 
out  of  his  jacket  and  was  away  in  the  darkness  like  a 
shooting  star.  The  man  started  to  follow  him  but  the  boy 
was  too  nimble  foi  him  and  got  away. 

On  the  day  following  the  incidents  we  have  described 
the  policeman  who  had  "nipped"  the  gamin  went  to  the 
address  given  by  the  little  girl.  He  found  a  plain  but 
comely  woman  in  a  neatly  furnished  apartment  and  she 
verified  the  story  told  by  her  little  daughter,  and  when 
asked  why  she  had  left  the  village  on  Long  Island  she 
related  how  she  had  excited  the  enmity  of  a  man  down 
there  who  had  started  in  to  persecute  her,  and  she  had 
thought  it  best  to  make  her  tome  in 'the  city.  She  said 
she  expected  to  get  work  in  good  time  and  earn  an  honor- 
able living,  and  we  will  dismiss  the  woman  from  our  story 
for  the  present,  with  the  statement  that  she  did  get  work 
through  the  aid  of  the  nobleman,  who  proved  to  be  a 


THK  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  11 

kindly  man,  am!  she  was  able  to  carry  out  her  desire  to 
earn  an  honest  living. 

In  the  meantime,  after  his  escape  from  the  detective, 
the  little  gamin  wandered  down  to  the  river  front  and 
secured  shelter  in  a  pile  of  lumber  where  he  slept  through 
the  remainder  of  the  night  as  peacefully  as  some  more 
•:ortunate  lad  in  his  snug  feather  bed. 


Ten  years  subsequent  to  the  incidents  we  have  related  a 
well-known  captain  of  police  was  walking  through  his 
precinct  taking  observations  when  he  was  met  by  a  young 
man  who  was  one  of  the  best  specimens  of  athletic  manhood 
one  can  meet  anywhere. 

"Hello,  cap,"  accosted  the  young  man  as  he  came  face 
to  face  with  the  precinct  captain. 

"Hello,  Jack,  what  are  you  doing  up  in  my  precinct?" 

"Oh,  I  am  just  hanging  around,  cap." 

The  police  captain  smiled  and  answered: 

"  When  Wonder  Jack  is  hanging  around  there  is  some- 
thing in  the  air." 

Wonder  Jack  was  a  detective — a  very  young  man  who 
had  been  appointed  on  the  force  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
and  who  had  earned  in  five  years  a  reputation  as  one  of  the 
bravest,  keenest  and  most  successful  detectives  on  the 
force.  Jack  Caswell  was  a  general  favorite  and  despite  his 
youth  was  looked  upon  as  a  very  valuable  man.  lie  had 
earned  the  pseudonym  of  Wonder  Jack  owing  to  .-everal 
very  remarkable  mysteries  he  had  solved,  ami  it  was  the 
via: '  nat  were  usually  assigned  to  him,  and  it  was 

this  fact  that  had  led  the  pivciw.t  c-.aplain  to  remark 
"When  Wonder  Jack  is  hanging  around  there  is  something 
up." 

The,  captain  and  tli--  : ve  stood  talking  for  some 

minutes  \\heu  to  the  surprise  of  the  captain  the  detective 
said: 


12  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN 

"By  the  way,  cap,  it's  strange  you  and  I  should  have 
Miiet  just  here." 

"It  is?" 

«  Yes." 
•    '"How?" 

"  You  don't  know  that  we  are  old  acquaintances?" 

•"  It's  -news  to  me  if  we  are." 

"Yon  never  asked  me  for  the  money  I  owe  you." 

*  Money  you  owe  me!"  exclaimed  the  captain,  in  a  tone 
of  mil-prise. 

"Yes,  money  I  owe  you." 

"  What  are  yon  getting  at,  Caswell?" 

"It'strife  I  owe  you  ten  cents,  and  I've  been  in  your 
debt  a  little  over  ten  years." 

"You  owe  me  ten  cents,  and  you've  been  in  my  debt  a 
little  over  ten  years?"  repeated  the  captain. 

"That's  true." 

"  Say,  Jack,  you  have  the  reputation  of  being  a  great 
joker  when  you've  nothing  else  to  do." 

"  Well,  I  am;  but  I  am  not  joking  now.  I  owe  you  ten 
soents  fair  and  square,  and  I  tell  you  it's  strange  we  met 
JEst  here." 

"You  are  talking  in  riddles,  Caswell.  Come,  man,  talk 
tup.  What  are  you  getting  at?  Am  I  under  suspicion,  and 
are  you  *  working'  me?" 

"JSTo,  captain,  I  am  in  dead  earnest." 

"What  are  you  getting  at?" 

"Look  around;  don't  you  recall  a  very  interesting 
sxperience  you  had  just  on  this  very  spot  about  ten  yeara 
ago?!' 

"I  don't." 

"Sure?" 

"  Yes,  I  am  sure  I  do  not  recall  any  strange  incident,  and 
I  say,  Jack,  if  you  are  not  joking  talk  up,  for  you  are 
perplexing  me." 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  13 

Jack  was  silent  a  moment,  but  after  an  interval  said: 

"Captain,  do  you  recollect  about  ten  years  ago  you 
i*rrested  a  lad  for  stealing  a  loaf  of  bread?" 

"By  ginger,  Jack,  what  are  yon  going  to  tell  me?" 

"It's  true,  cap;  you  paid  for  the  bread  and  the  thief 
said  some  day  he  would  pay  you  back.  Here's  your  ten 
cents." 

"Jack  Caswell,  are  you  that  boy?" 

"Yes,  I  am." 

"  How  is  it  you  never  called  my  attention  to  your  identity 
before?" 

"  Well,  my  reasons  were  various,  but  here  is  your  ten 
jents.  Do  you  want  interest:"' 

"Jack,  I've  got  interest  a  thousand  times  in  recognizing 
pou  as  that  little  vagabond.  And  do  you  know  I've  often 
thought  of  you  and  that  night?" 

"Is  that  so?"  ^ 

"Yes,  I  don't  know  as  I  should  ever  have  recalled  it  if 
it  had  not  been  for  the  romance  that  followed  that  little 
incident." 

"  Was  there  a  romance  that  followed  it?" 

"  There  was,  sure — one  of  the  most  interesting  romances 
you  ever  heard  tell  of.  Did  you  ever  hear  what  became  of 
the  little  girl  for  whom  you  stole  the  loaf  of  bread?" 

"No." 

"  You  Itave  never  seen  or  heard  of  her  since  r" 

"  No." 

"Well,  well,  had  you  made  yourself  known  to  me  sooner 
I  would  have  told  you  the  story." 

"Tell  it  now." 

"I  will;  but   first   tell   me  about  y.nnvelf.      I   remember 
our  ward  detective  MiipjUMT  you  that   ni/lit   and    you 
him  the  slip  and  that,   is   the  \\^l    1    rein  r  having 

r  h;  ;ird  <>f  you  until  n,->\v.  and  1  litih-  dreamed  :t 
you   building   u;i  .station  that   you    were  the 


U  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

little  bread  thief.     But  come,  tell  me  all  about  yourseH 

and  then  I  will  tell  you  about  the  little  girl.     It's  a  great 

story,  a  wonderful  denouement." 

"I  was  unfortunate  during  the  early  part  of  my  life, 

cap,  and  now  let  me  tell  you  something.     You  will  believe 

me  now." 
"Certainly  I  will,  and  I  believed  you  that  night,  didn't 

I?     If  I  hadn't  I'd  have  taken  you  in  and   have  locked 

you  up." 

"That's  true,  and  so  is  this  true;  that  was  the  first  time 
I  ever  stole  anything  in  my  life,  but  somehow  when  that 
little  blue-eyed  girl  looked  up  at  me  and  said  she  was 
hungry  I  couldn't  stand  it,  you  see.  I  had  just  been  look- 
ing in  that  baker's  shop  at  those  loaves  of  bread,  for  I  was 
hungry  myself,  but  I  wouldn't  'lift'  one  to  appease  my 
own  hunger.  But  when  it  came  to  the  little  girl  I  made 
up  my  mind  on  the  instant  and  I  nipped  the  bread.  Well, 
I  fell  into  good  hands  and  I  really  believe  that  was  the 
turning  point  in  my  life.  You  see  had  I  gotten  away  with 
that  steal  for  the  girl  I  might  have  argued  that  once  hav- 
ing stolen  I  might  do  it  again.  A  bad  argument,  cap,  but 
little  gamins  don't  know  logic,  you  must  remember,  and  I 
tell  you  I  felt  my  conscience  prick  me." 

"By  the  by,  Jack,  you  told  me  your  story  that  night. 
Did  you  ever  discover  your  parents?" 

"No,  sir,  but  I  reckon  I've  honest  blood  in  me,  for  I 
always  felt  a  desire  to  tell  the  truth  and  do  right,  and  I 
had  no  teaching  in  that  direction  either.  And,  cap,  I 
stand  a  testimony  to  the  declaration  that  honesty  is  the  best 
policy,  and  I've  since  proved  it  in  a  hundred  ways.  That 
night  I  strolled  down  to  the  river  and  found  a  bunk  in  a  pile 
of  lumber.  Well,  it  does  seem  that  fate  was  around  that. 
Hight,  I  woke  early  and  was  sitting  on  the  pile  of  lumber 
when  I  heard  a  scream  from  the  river.  I  knew  what  it 
meant,  I've  heard  those  cries  several  times.  I  had  heard 


15 

that  lime.      I  lea;  ;  iie  end  of 

the  [M,;:m  -ind    i  i  nigh,  was  a   lad   struggling  in 

tin1,  water  and  la-  could   not   swim.     Well,  I  am   a   regular 
dog,  lik  :amins  around  New  York.     1   was  a 

swimmer,  and  o?er  I  went  and  caught  the  lad  just 
in  time,  and  I  held  him  above  water  until  they  could  lower 
a  boat  from  the  ship  and  we  were  both  hauled  on  board. 
The  lad  was  the  captain's  son  and  he  knew  I  had  sav« 
boy's  life,  and  after  he  had  given  mo  a  good  breakfast  he 
asked:  'What  can  I  do  for  you,  lad?'  I  answered,  'Take 
me  to  sea  with  you,  captain.'  'I'll  do  it,'  he  answered, 
'if  everything  is  all  right.'  And  when  he  heard  my  story 
he  agreed  to  take  me  to  sea  with  him  as  cabin  boy.  I  tell 
you,  cap,  it  was  a  fortunate  adventure  for  me.  I  sailed 
\  ears  on  that  ship  and  the  captain's  wife  took  a  great 
fancy  to  me  and  she  became  my  teacher.  I  could  neither 
read  nor  spell  and  we  had  plenty  of  time  on  that  ship  and 
I  took  to  it.  ftho  was  instructing  her  own  boy.  You  see 
before  she  married  the  captain  she  had  been  a  Yankee 
schoolmarm.  1  soon  caught  up  with  her  boy  and  we 
studied  together  and  when  I  left  the  ship  I  was  as  well 
educated  as  most  boys  who  have  been  to  school  from  four- 
teen to  twenty.  She  had  plenty  of  books  and  I  became  a 
great  road  IT." 

"  You  didn't  like  the  sea?" 

"'Oh,  yes,  but  I  became  ambitious,  cap.     I  thought  with 
iny  education   I  could  make  my  way  bettor  on  shop 
when  ai'liT  tin  I  he  captain  returned    to    N'-w   Y-'ik 

I  left  the  ship.     1  had  some,  money  and   I  set  out   t< 
merchant,  but  something  occurred  that  led  me  to  uhango 
my  mind." 

"  What  occurred,  Jack?" 

"After  I  had  been  in  a  house  (wo  \eais  they  failed,  and 
a  frisud  of  mine  said  he  could  get  m«  on  the  police  force. 
I  determined  to  become  a  ..n  ami  nere  i  am,  and 


16  fHR  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

now  yon  have  the  whole  story  of  the  little  bread  thief  n* 
to  date,  captain." 

•  "It  is  a  remarkable  story,  Jack,  in  some  respects,  but 
similar  incidents  are  occnrring  every  day." 

"Yon  are  right,  cap.     I've  come  to  learn  some  very 

trange  life  histories  since  I've  been  on  the  force  But 
tell  me  about  the  little  blue-eyed  girl  and  her  hun<nr 
mother."  to  J 

"I  promised  the  girl  I  would  call  and  see  her  mother  tho 
Wowing  day  and  I  kept  my  word.     I  found  her  a  very 
e  woman  <<md  very  pretty.     She  was  raised  in  a  town 
down  on  Long  Island  and  after  the  supposed  death  of  her 
husband  a  lawyer  there  wanted  to  marry  the  pretty  widow 
She   refused    him,    very    fortunately,   as  the   sequel  will 
He  commenced  to  persecute  her  and  she  fled  to 
the  city  and  after  being  here  a  week  was  robbed  of  all  the 
money  she  had.     She  did  not  know  enough  of  city  life   and 
in  despair,  when  almost  starving,  sent  her  little  girl  out  to 
beg  and  you  stole  the  bread  that  kept  them  from  starving. 
Ml,  I  took  an  interest  in  the  woman,  got  her  some  work 
:lo,  and  she  lived  along  nicely  for  two  years,  when  lo 
one  day  her  husband,  who  had  been  supposed  to  have  been 
drowned,  turned  up  alive.     He  had  been  washed  overboard 
•om  his  boat  but  caught  on  to  a  log  and  sustained  himself 
for  several  hours  when  he  was  picked  up  by  an  outgoin* 
boat  bound  around  the  Horn  for  California.     They  could 
do  nothing  else  but  take  him  along,  meaning  to  transfer 
mm  to  some  incoming  vessel.     But  a  storm  drove  them 
out  of  their  course  and  the  result  was  he  went  on  to  Cali- 
fornia.    He  argued  that  his  wife,  believed  him  dead.     He 
reached  California  and  wrote  to  his  wife  that  as  he  was 
there  he  would  try  his  fortune  on  the  Pacific  coast.     She 
never  received  his  letter.     He  wrote  several  times  and  in 
the  meantime  joined  a  party  going  off  prospecting  in  the 
mountains.     They  struck  it  good  and  he  remained  there 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAX.  17 

for  two  years  ami  picked  up  quite  a  snra  of  money,  then  he 
came  east  and  after  a  long  search  succeeded  in  finding  his 
wife,  and  found  her  under  circumstances  that  were  very 
gratifying  to  him.  For,  as  he  told  me,  dark  and  aggravat- 
ing suspicions  had  shadowed  over  him.  He  took  his  wife 
hick  with  him  to  California  and  to-day  he  is  a  millionaire. 
I  have  a  letter  about  once  a  year  from  him  and  when  my 
daughter  was  married  he  sent  on  a  present  that  made  our 
eyes  water,  and  he  has  offered  me  all  kinds  of  inducements 
to  accept  valuable  acknowledgments.  That  is  the  story, 
Jack,  and  I  can  show  you  a  photograph  of  the  blue-eyed 
girl  for  whom  yon  stole  the  loaf  of  bread,  and  she  is  a 
beautiful  young  lady  now." 

Wonder  Jack  listened  with  a  great  deal  of  interest  to 
the  captain's  story,  and  when  it  was  completed  he  said: 

"That  is  the  spot  right  there,  cap,  where  I  first  beheld 
her." 

"Yes,  I  recall  it  now,  since  you  remind  me  of  it,  and  I 
can  exclaim  in  amazement,  'what  will  a  night  bring  forth!' 
but  come  and  I  will  show  you  the  girl's  picture." 

The  two  men  proceeded  to  a  near-by  saloon  where  electric 
lights  made  clear  every  line  under  a  radiance  almost  as  bright 
as  day.  The  captain  drew  a  wallet  from  his  pocket  and 
produced  a  photograph  which  he  handed  to  the  detective. 
The  latter  took  it,  fixed  his  eyes  upon  it  and  his  face 
assumed  a  look  of  ill-concealed  surprise.  The  captain 
\  ed  the  singular  expression  upon  the  detective's  strong 
face  and  demanded: 

"What  now?" 

"Is  this  a  photograph  of  little  blue-eyes?" 

"Yes." 

"You  are  sure  you  have  not  made  a  mistake  and  given 
mo  the  wrong  picture?" 

"I  have  made  np  mistake." 


18  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"It's  very  strange,"  muttered  the  detective,  in  a  reflex 
tive  tone. 

"  What  is  atrange,  Jack?" 

The  detective  did  not  answer  immediately.  He  appeared 
lost  in  deep  study. 

"Bo  you  recall  the  face,  Jack?"  asked  the  captain. 

"I  only  caught  a  glimpse  of  that  face  and  yet  it  made  a 
deep  impression  upon  me.  Yes,  I  remember  it  well,  that 
is  the  face  of  the  little  girl." 

"And  do  you  recognize  the  child  in  the  young  lady?" 

The  detective  did  not  answer  the  question,  but  said : 

"It's  a  remarkable  face." 

"Jack,  you  are  on  to  something." 

"Ami?" 

"  Yes;  I  am  not  a  detective,  but  I  am  an  observer." 

"Captain,  did  you  ever  recognize  a  person  in  your 
precinct  who  bears  any  resemblance  to  that  picture?" 

"Aha!  I  knew,  yes,  I  knew  you  were  not  hanging 
around  in  my  precinct  for  mere  amusement." 

"You  do  not  answer  my  question." 

"No,  I  have  never  seen  any  one  who  resembles  that 
picture." 

"No  one  who  would  remind  you,  of  the  picture?" 

"No." 

"And  what  \$>  this  girl's  name?" 

"Alice." 

"Her  last  name?" 

"Alice  Swartswood." 

"And  she  resides  at  present  in  California?" 

"Yes." 

"Her  father  is  a  millionaire?" 

"Yes." 

"No  doubt  about  that?" 

"None  whatever." 

"It's  strange." 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANUA  TTAN.  19 

"Jack,  will  yon  tell  mo  what  you  are  getting  at?" 

"Captain,  you  have  heard  of  the  Witch  of  Manhattan?" 

"  No,  I  have  not  " 

The  detective  smiled  and  said: 

"I  don't  wonder." 

"  Will  you  talk  straight  out,  Jack?" 

"I've  dubbed  her  the  Witch  of  Manhattan." 

"  Tell  me  about  the  Witch  of  Manhattan  and  her  connec- 
tion with  that  picture." 

"  What  makes  you  think  the  Witch  has  any  connection 
with  this  picture?" 

"I  have  been  watching  you." 

•'  Mebbe  you  think  I  am  bewitched." 

"No." 

"Cap,  they  count  me  pretty  smart  in  solving  mysteries." 

"  Yes,  they  think  you  are  a  wonder." 

"And  yet  I  am  at  fault  just  once.     I  am  dead  beat." 

"Beaten  by  a  witch?" 

"  Yes." 

"Let's  hear  about  it." 

The  two  men  had  seated  themselves. 

"There  is  a  thief  in  New  York  who  has  evaded  every 
ofiicrr  in  the  business— a  female  thief.  Sometimes  she 
appears  as  an  old  woman,  sometimes  as  a  beautiful 
young  lady.  She  lias  worked  on  men's  sympathies 
and  lulled  them  until  she  secured  u  chance  to  rob  them. 
At  other  times  she  appears  before  them  a  golden-lwiivd 
girl  and  bewitches  them  and  robs  them.  She  is  the  most 
cunning  and  the  most  successfnl  thief  in  certain  directions 
that  evej-  appeared  in  New  York,  and  thus  far  she  has 
baffled  every  officer  put  on  her  track." 

"  Has  she  baffled  you?" 

"  Yes,  so  far." 

kk  J!id  you  ever  see  her?" 

"There's  the  rub,  captain.     We  all  think  we  have 


20  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAN. 


her  and  none  are  sure.  She  is  the  qneen  of  sirens,  an 
alluring  mystery,  who  is  plundering  right  and  left  with 
delightful  impunity." 

"And  yon  have  all  failed  in  tracing  her?" 

"We  have." 

"What  are  her  methods?" 

"I've  told  yon  her  methods.     She  begniles  and   then 
steals. 

"Large  amounts?" 

"She   takes  anything  lying  around    loose.      Her  last 

rploit  was  the   stealing  of  twenty  thousand   dollars  in 
negotiable  bonds." 

"Did  she  negotiate  them?" 

"She  did." 

"And  got  away  with  the  money?" 

"Yes." 

"She  mnst  be  smart." 

"She  is." 

"And  yon  think  she  is  in  my  district?" 

"I  have  no  reason  to  think  so." 
Then  you  did  not  come  np  here  to  look  for  her?" 

*No,  I  was  sent  for  to  meet  a  gentleman  who  stated  he 
nad  very  particular  business  with  me." 

"Who  is  the  gentleman?" 
"I  have  not  seen  him  yet." 
"You  know  who  he  is?" 

"No;  I  was  only  requested  to  call  at  a  certain  aurnber 
atid  send  in  my  card  to  the  master  of  the  honse." 
"  Where  is  the  honse?" 
Jack  gave  the  number  and  the  captain  exclaimed: 

I  know  that  house." 
"You  do?" 
"Yes." 

"Then  yon  know  now  what  I  am  doing  np  iu  J0nr  di*. 
I  want  to  inquire  abont  that  house." 


ncffOf  ijv.  21 

"If  hioned  house,  Imilt  some  time  dur- 

ing the  revu!ui;<;".     \<  IIM.  ant  for  sixteen  years." 

"It  r.pp>  'itpicd  now." 

•ortcd  to  me  that  it  is  occupied.     The 

Yielding  l)rl«Mi'js  to  an   estate  that  was  in  litigation.     Pos- 

i  settled  and  one  of  the  heirs  occupies 

"Then  you  know  nothing  about  the  present  occupant?*' 

lo." 
"The   party,  whoever  it  is,  has  been  there  but  a  few 

ks." 

"Not  OVCT  t\vo  weeks." 

"Ail  right,  captain,  I  will  go  there  and  pick   np  my 
information  from  the  party  direct." 

A  little  later  and  Wonder  Jack  appeared  before  an  old 
double  house  .standing  back  fully  twenty  feet  from  the  side- 
walk line.  He  passed  through  the  gate,  rang  the  bell  and 
1.  It  was  some  time  before  his  summons  was  answered 
and  then  an  old  man,  evidently  a  servant,  opened  the  door 
and  demanded: 

"What  is  wanted?" 
.Jae.k  handed  in  his  card  and  said: 
"  I'lease  deliver  it  to  the  master  of  the  honse." 
The   old    man  took  the  card  and   iu   a  few   momenta 
returned  and  said: 
••  I'l.-ase  euMie  in,  sir." 

Th"  detective  was  shown  into  a  large  parlor  after  passing 

:!i  a  broad  hall,    lie  found  the  furniture  old-fashioned, 

:  i'di  and  nin.^ive.      All   the  hangings    were  faded, 

but  a  the  materials  were  of  the  richest  character. 

He  did  not  be:  ingle  article  that  appealed  new  and 

,  and  vet  eYervl.hi!:;^  h;ul  been  and  burnished 

up,  and  looked  pea!  and  eonifortahle. 

Thu  deteetivr  \va.-;  QOinpell  it  some  littlo  time 

'itured   to  turn  n}>  the  gas  so  ho  could  study  more 


22  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

readily  his  surroundings,  and  he  boldly  wandered  around 
the  parlor;  it  was  a  way  he  had.     He  was  always  investi- 
gating, and  it  was  this  habit  which  enabled  him  to  get  on 
to  a  great  many  facts  at  different   times.     He  wandered 
into  the  rear  parlor,  when  his  attention  was  arrested  05 
beholding  a  portrait.     It  was  the  picture  of  a  young  girl, 
and  our  hero  stood  and  gazed   in  rapt  admiration,  for  it 
was  a  beautiful  face.     Well,  he  had  beheld  many  beautiful 
faces  ^in  his  time-,  it  was  not  an  unusual  event  to  see  a 
beautiful  face,  but  there  was  something  in  the  expression 
of  this  face  which  aroused  strange  feelings.     The  artist 
had  been  a  man  of  genius  and  he  had  succeeded  in  putting 
upon  canvas  a  face  beautiful  as  we  have  indicated   and 
clothed  it  with  an  expression  that  caused  one  to  become 
interested   at  once.      The  portrait   represented   a  young 
girl,  and  despite  her  apparent  youth  and  wondrous  beauty 
there  was  a  sad  look  which  was  actually  startling  in  its 
life-like  distinctness. 

The  detective  was  still  gazing  with  rapt  attention  when 
a  roice  demanded: 

"Well,  now  are  you  prepared  to  give  me  your  attention?" 

The  detective  turned  and  beheld  an  old  lady,  tall  and 
stately,  and  with  a  very  stern  expression  of  countenance. 

"Excuse  me,  madam,  I  was  absorbed  in  admiration;  that 
is  the  most  striking  portrait  I  ever  beheld." 

The  lady  did  not  deign  to  explain  who  the  original  was. 
Jack  hoped  she  would;  on  the  contrary  she  asked: 

"Are  you  Mr.  Gas  well?" 

"  That  is  my  name,  madam." 

"I  sent  for  you." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  madam,  I  thought  I  was  to  meet  a 
gentleman." 

"I  do  not  know  how  you  became  possessed  of  that  im* 
pression.  I  sent  for  you." 

"Madam,  I  am  at  jour  service." 


277,  i  TTAX.  28 

'.•illy.1' 

,Ia>-k  did  iiiii,  ask  why  she  had  sent  for  him  expressly, 
and  si  ded  to  reveal  her  reason  unasked. 

"  I  had  heard  ahout  you,"  she  said. 

A  slill  maintained  silence. 

"  I  have  been  informed  that  yon  are  a  very  shrewd  man, 
ami  an  hone.4  man,  and  a  gentleman,  who  can  he  entrusted 
with  the  most  conlidential  business." 

"  I  am  always  true  to  them  I  serve,  madam." 
"So  I  have  been  informed;  and  it  is  a  very  delicate  busi- 
ness I  have  on  hand  for  you  to  undertake." 
"I  am  prepared  to  listen,  madam." 
44  It  is  a  case  of  robbery." 
"Tell  me  about  it,  madam." 
"It  is  an  extraordinary  case." 

u  can  tell  me  all  about  it,  madam." 
"I  will  ihvt  lull   you  something  of  our  family  history, 
not  that  the  narrative  will  directly  bear  upon  the  mystery, 
but  I  de>ire  that  you  should  know  whom  you  serve." 
"I  am  ready  to  listen,  madam." 

"  1  am  !  "f  the  man  who  was  the  real  heir  to  a 

.     This  house  was  a  part  of  the  estate.     My 
brother's  father  loft  this  property  to  him." 

"  Madam,  why  do  y<  air  brother's  father?" 

0    he    was   my    half-brother   only.       My   mother 

i   widow  when  §be   married  my  brother's  father,  and 

d  hf  K  ft  me,  a  sum  of  money,  but 

ill  th  ile  he  Irfl  to  my  brothers,  and  immediately 

1'ollowed   a   lawsuit,  which    was  only  finally  decided 

"  Who  •  :  the  will,  madam?" 

"  My  br«  i.ali'-hrtjtlicr." 

MI-  own  hrnihrt  ?" 

had   a  sun   when   he  married  my 
motl  n-r,     had     been 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 


"Yes,  sir. 
"Proceed." 


"My  stepbrother  was  disinherited." 

e  was  an  only  S0n,  by  the  first  marriage?" 
8"'        6  ^  D0t  meutionetl  in  the  will." 


"Yes." 

"In  whose  favor?" 
*'In  favor  of  the  jonnger  sons." 
;<  And  the  elder  son  who  contested?" 
He  died  a  bankrupt." 
"And  why  have  you  told  me  all  this?" 


Again  the  detective  smiled,  and  said; 


AH  right,  madam,  I  am  glad  to  have  -ill         = 
possession,  direct  and  collateral."  ln 

"Onr  family,  sir,  is  purgned  by  „  Nemesis  „ 


of 

No,  sir." 


THE  WI7VII  OF  MANHATTAN.  25 

"  Madam,  if  every  robber  was  looked  upon  as  a  Nemesis, 
there  would  be  a  great  many  avengers  of  that  sort  in  the 
world." 

"An  ordinary  robbery  would  not  mean  much,  but  this 
robber  is  persistent,  ingenious,  and  dangerous,  and  unless 
his  robberies  are  checked  we  will  become  impoverished." 

Again  the  detective  smiled.  The  remark  was  very 
womanly  and  yet  the  old  lady  appeared  to  be  a  person  of 
nerve,  good  sense,  and  courage. 

"  Will  you  give  me  the  details?" 

"This  house  has  been  entered  three  times,  and  property 
to  the  amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars  has  been  taken; 
family  heirlooms,  valuable  gems,  and  five  thousand  in 
securities  and  money,  which  were  held  here  temporarily." 

The  detective  smiled,  and  the  old  lady  observing  hia 
smile,  asked: 

"Why  do  you  smile?" 

Jack,  who  had  a  keen  sense  of  humor,  said: 

"Madam,  if  they  were  stolen,  they  certainly  were  held 
here  only  temporarily." 

"  I  should  have  said  we  were  compelled  to  keep  them 
here  over  night  and  that  night  they  were  stolen." 

"And  have  you  any  clew  to  the  thief?" 

"Now,  sir,  comes  a  test  of  the  reasons  why  I  sent  for 
you.  Can  we  rely  upon  your  absolute  friendliness?" 

"Will  you  explain,  madam?" 

"I  want  this  thief  caught." 

"I  see." 

"But  I  do  not  wish  any  of  our  family  to  be  implicated 
as  prosecutors." 

"  Minium,  if  that  is  your  desire,  there  is  no  need  to  catch 
the  thief.  A  complainant  must  appear." 

"I  do  not  care  so  much  about  prosecuting  the  thief.  I 
have  another  purpose." 

"What  is  your  other  purpose?" 


26 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAN. 


"  You  say  /fo's  or  her  9  " 
"Yes." 
"Why?" 
It  is  possible  the  robber  is  a  woman  » 

aTor  r  ds  for  belie;ing  jt  possibie  that 

"Yes." 

"Will  you  state  your  grounds?" 

•Several  members  of  our  family  have  been  his  or 


Jack  Caswell  almost  leaped  ont  of  his  chair.     It  was  the 

that  the  »^nol  "bbe 
the  -^nons  Witch  of 

°f 


"Yes." 

"And  his  name?" 

"Theodore  Peale." 


°r6    ee 
Theodore  Peale  was  the  man  who  had  been 

am,  who  is  the  original  of  that  picture?" 
bhe  was  the  daughter  of  my  half-brother," 
Where  is  you*  half-brother?" 
"He  is  dead." 

;<And  this  young  lady?     Can  I  see  her?" 
''No,  sir," 

a  ^  t0neMd  *****  *<>«  a 


Til  '[  OF  MANHATTAN.  27 

""Why  not,  ni:id:i!ii:'" 
1." 

"The  original  of  that  portrait  is  dead?" 

-  V 

"  Uow  long  has  she  been  dead,  madam?" 

"  X.-ni'ly  ii  year." 

4k  Who  is  the  owner  of  this  estate  now?" 

"I  am." 

"  Yon  told  me,  madam,  yon  had  three  half -brothers." 

"  Yes,  sir;  I  said  I  had  three  half-brothers.  I  am  the 
last  of  the  family.  Death  carried  off  all  the  family,  even 
my  niece,  who  was  the  residuary  heir  of  her  uncles  when  the 
will  was  decided  in  her  favor.  She  was  the  sole  legatee. 
I  was  her  heir." 

"And  you  are  now  the  owner  of  the  whole  estate?" 

"I  am,  as  the  heir  of  my  niece." 

"Have  you  any  family  of  your  own,  madam?" 

"I  have  a  sou." 

"Does  he  live  with  you?" 

"No.     He  resides  out  west." 

"You  spoke  of  a  nephew,  Theodore  Pealo." 

"  Yes." 

"  Is  he  the  son  of  one  of  the  brothers?" 

"No,  he  is  the  son  of  one  of  my  own  brothers." 

"I  think,  madam,  that  now  I  have  the  family  history 
Jown  pretty  well." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Do  yon  live  here  alone?" 

"No,  a  granddaughter  resides  with  me." 

"  You  recently  took  possession  here?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Now,  then,  madam,  you  wish  to  find  the  thief?" 

.-3." 

"You  o!o  not  want  the  thief  a r rested?" 
«  No." 


#g  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"What -am.  I  to  dor* 

"Merely  run  the  thief  down,  and  identify  him  or  her." 
"  And  you  can  give  me  no  clew  as  to  the  identity  of  the 
ihief?" 
"I  cannot." 
"Bow  am  I  to  begin." 
"You  are  a  detective?" 
"Yes." 
"You  might  set  a  trap.     The  thief  may  visit  this  housa 

again." 

The  detective  wanted  time  to  think  the  matter  over. 
He  had  listened  attentively  to  the  story  of  the  lady,  as 
stated,  and  during  the  whole  time  that  she  was  talking  he 
bad  watched  her  closely,  very  closely,  and  he  finally  said : 

"Madam,  I  will  give  this  matter  some  consideration,  and 
see  you  again." 

"You  will  decide  upon  a  plan?" 

"I  will." 

"You  will  not'take  any  one  into  your  confidence?" 

"I  will  not  at  present." 

"Why  do  you  put  in  the  reservation?" 

"I  never  positively  bind  myself.  I  will  agree  not  to 
take  any  one  into  my  confidence  without  consultation  with 

you." 

"That  is  satisfactory;  and  now  remember  all  I  desire  at 
present  is  that  you  will  identify  the  thief." 

"I  am  not  to  make  an  arrest?" 

"No;  but  your  identification  must  be  positive  and 
absolute." 

"Atid  then?" 

"You  will  have  earned  your  reward,  and  I  promise  you 
it  shall  be  the  most  munificent  payment  you  ever  received.' 

"Madam,  you  have  not  been  perfectly  frank  with  me." 

"I  have  not?" 

"No." 


THE  WITCH  OP  MANHATTAN.  29 

"Why  do  you  think  so?" 

*  You  have  a  suspicion  as  to  the  identity  of  the  thief  P" 

"On  my  sacred  honor,  I  have  not." 

"And  you  cannot  give  me  the  slightest  clew  to  work 
upon?" 

"1  cannot." 

"I  will  see  you  again,  madam." 

"When?" 

"After  I  have  fully  considered  the  whole  matter."  . 

Tho  detective  departed  and  as  he  walked  along  the  street 
he  v,  ;ed  by  the  precinct  captain  who  said: 

"Jack,  I've  been  on  the  'lay'  for  you." 

-Well." 

"How  did  you  make  out?" 

*'  i  haven't  made  anything  out,  except  that  it  is  another 
f  the  Witch  of  Manhattan,  and  the  affair  is  becoming 
complicated." 

"  When  I  can  be  of  any  service  to  you,  let  me  know." 

"I  will." 

Jack  returned  to  his  lodgings.  He  sat  down  and  thought 
the  whole  matter  over  in  his  mind.  He  was  satisfied  he 
was  engaged  in  a  very  remarkable  case,  and  he  reached  a 
conclusion  that  there  existed  the  most  startling  possibilities 
in  the  ail'air.  lie  passed  a  sleepless  night.  Ho  had  been, 
haunted,  he  remarked  when  he  arose  in  the  morning — • 
haunted  by  a  face—  and  that  J'aee  wan  the  sad,  beautiful  om 
represented  upon  the  canvas  in  the  old  house  where  he  had 
held  the  strange  interview  concerning  the  mysterious  robber. 

It  was  true  the  face  had  haunted  our  hero  and  tin 
features  represented  141011  that  canvas  were  indelibly  fixe4 
upnii  his  ineniorv. 

"When  1;<  iii  the  morning  he  recalled  all  the  inci- 

ivlntrd  l»v  tin-  woman  and  he  wafi  more  and  nmni 
perplex,  d  the  closer  In*  studied  the  faets,  and  he  muttered 

"There  is  a  mystery  here  deeper  than   1   can  solve  a 


30  THE  WITCH  OF  MA  NSATTAN, 

present      There  is  some  devilm-ent  somewhere.     I  am  not 

satisfied  that  the  woman  was  honest.     Her  instruction 

w«re  strange  and  unusual  and  therein  lies  the  germ  of  mv 

suspicion.     One  thing  is  certain,  the  Witch  of  Manhattan 

the  Nemesis.     Now,  then,  I  will  start  out  and  make  a 

ie  study  m  one  direction  anyway,  and  then  I  will  set  a 

rap,  but  a  different  one  from  that  suggested  by  the  old 


The  detective's  first  move  was  a  visit  to  the  office  of 
Iheodore  Peale. 

He  went  into  the  man's  law  office,  and  sitting  down 
waited  until  the  head  of  the  office  was  at  leisure,  and  he 
had  an  excellent  opportunity  to  study  the  man.  In  due 
time  Mr.  Peale  was  at  leisure,  and  he  called  the  detective 
into  Ins  office. 


"A  little." 

The  lawyer  started  and  asked: 

"  What  have  yon  discovered?" 

'   Sir'   that  y™  ai'e  not  the  only 


"Oh,  no;  the  thief  whom  yon  call  the  Witch  of  Man- 

3  very  impartial  in  her  peculations.     I  have  had 

several  people  report  losses  to  me,  and,  by  the  way,  that 

was  a  happy  thought  of  yonrs,  dubbing  her  the  Witch  of 

lanhattan;  how  is  it  you  fell  to  that  name?" 

fell  10  it  from   the  fact  that  yon  told  me  that  t  * 
rming  yonng  lady  who  robbed  yon   dubbed  herself  a 
Manbattan'  a  desce»^t  of  one  of  the  old 


fact?*'  J6S'   l  remember'  and  she  did  dwell  npon  that 

"Mr.  Peale,"  said  the  officer,   "you   tell  me  that  this 
thief  has  robbed  saveral  of  your  acquaintances?" 


THE  in 7V .77  OP  MANHATTAN.  31 

"Yes." 

!  itivcs  of  yours?" 
>h,  no. " 

Tlu-  detective  was  thoughtful  a  moment  and  then  asked- 

"  Have  YOU  an  aunt  living  at street?" 

"Oh,  yes." 

"I've  seen  that  lady." 

iir  sent  for  you  at  my  suggestion." 

"  It  appeal's  that  your  aunt  is  also  a  victim?" 

There  came  a  light  in  the  man's  eyes  that  told  much  to 
the  keen  ofli« 

"  Oh,  she  should  not  have  told  you  that." 

-She  did." 

"  i  suppose  it's  all  right." 

"  It  may  be,  but  I  see  you  have  misled  your  aunt." 

"I  have?" 

"  Yes." 

"How?" 

"She  appears  to  think  that  your  family  alone  are  the 
victims  of  the  thief." 

Again  there  came  a  very  suggestive  look  in  the  lawyer's 
eyes,  at  least  the  look  was  very  suggestive  to  our  hero. 

"She  told  you  that,  eh?" 

*  Yes." 

"I  suppose  she  thinks  so." 

"One  more  fact,  sir;  you  say  the  thief  negotiated  the 
bonds?" 

-  Yes." 

u  Where  did  she  negotiate  them?" 
The  lawyer  named  a  hank. 
"  You  did  ii"t  tell  me  (hid  before." 
"You   asked   MID   the  question   1  could1  not  answer.     I 
1  rained  and   since  you  repeat  vour  question  I  answer 
it." 

'  "Under  what  guise  did  the  Witch  appear  at  the  bank?" 


32  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 


had   better  go  and   gee  the  officers  of  the  bank; 
they  can  tell  yon  better  than  I  can." 

"I  will  go  and  see  them,"  said  Jack,  and  upon  gaining 
the  street  he  muttered: 

"Great  Scott,  I  am  knocked  out  on  one  surmise,  that  ie 
sure." 

The  detective  called  afc  the  bank  and  learned  that  a 
respectable  old  lady  had  called,  bringing  with  her  letters 
of  the  highest  character. 

"Were  the  letters  genuine?"  asked  Jack. 

"They  appeared  to  be,  but  the  real  owners  claim  not." 

"Then  you  are  losers." 

"We  may  be,"  came  the  evasive  answer. 

The  answer  meant  a  great  deal  to  our  hero,  and  he 
determined  to  start  in  on  the  trail  of  his  life. 

That  night  the  detective  appeared  at  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Thomas,  and  said  after  some  talk: 

"I  will  remain  here  to-night,  with  your  permission." 

"Why  should  you,  sir?1' 

"I  thought  it  might  be  desirable  to  you." 

"No,  there  is  no  need." 

Jack  expected  his  offer  would  be  declined,  but  he  had  a 
purpose  in  making  the  request,  and  after  some  little  time 
he  left  the  house,  but  he  had  gotten  his  points,  and  had 
decided  upon  his  move. 

It  was  about  midnight  when  the  detective  appeared 
before  the  old  mansion.  He  was  gotten  up  in  an  excellent 
disguise,  and  acting  on  information  he  had  obtained 
earlier  in  the  evening  he  gained  an  entrance  to  the  house. 
He  moved  noiselessly  along  on  the  lower  floor.  All  was 
dark  and  still,  and  he  took  up  a  position  in  the  parlor, 
He  had  his  mask-lantern  with  him,  and  he  flashed  its  light 
on  the  portrait  which  had  so  fascinated  him.  He  remained 
in  the  house  for  two  hours,  and  finally  concluded  there 
was  nothing  to  be  learned  and  he  stole  forth  and  gained 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 


fche  street.  He  was  pacing  almvj:,  lo.--t  in  derp  thought, 
when  he  was  around  hy  being  pa.vod  by  a  lady.  The 
latter  was  heavily  veiled  and  the  hour  was  after  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning. 

As  wo  have  stated,  the  veiled  lady  passed  him,  indicating 
that  she  had  come  from  the  direction  of  the  old  house. 

Jack  walked  along  after  the  lady  and  decided  upon  a 
bold  move.     He  stepped  up  beside  the  female  and  said: 

"Excuse  me,  but  can  I  be  of  any  service  to  you?" 

The  lady  did  not  appear  at  all  frightened,  but  answered 
promptly: 

"No,  sir." 

"Do   not  fear  to  ask   a  service,  miss,"  persisted   the 
detective. 

"You  can  do  me  a  kindness,"  said  the  lady. 

"I  thought  so." 

"Will  you?" 

"I  will." 

"Then  please  go  off  about  your  business,  and  let  me 
alone." 

We  will  here  state  that  a  most  singular  premonition  had 
presented  itself  to  our  hero's  mind.  He  could  never  tell 
how  he  came  to  realize  the  suspicion,  but  he  always  after- 
ward claimed  that  he  was  urged  to  commit  the  act  he 
did  under  the  strongest  impulse  of  his  life.  He  suddenly 
reached  his  hand  forth  and  tore  aside  the  veil,  and  for  an 
instant  he  stood  paralyzed,  and  the  nest  he  lay  bleeding  on 
the  sidewalk,  stricken  by  a  blow  from  a  club,  and  the  lady 
disappeared  around  the  comer  ere  our  hero  cluild  i 
his  feet.  Ho  had  received  a  pretty  powerful  blow,  but  the 
stroke  of  the  club  was  nothing  compared  to  the  shock  of 
surprise1.  When  .lack  tore  aside.  tli.-it,  veil  there' 

••led  before  him  the  face  of  the  original  of  the  portrait, 
the  pictured  i'ace  that  hail  haunted  his  memory,  and  the 
discovery  was  more  stunning  than  tho  blow,  and  the  latter, 
as  intimated,  had  been  a  powerful  stroke. 


34  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

Jack  rose  to  his  feet  and  he  muttered: 

"I  am  dead  beat.  Great  Scott!  I  am  on  the  mystery  of 
my  life.  Mrs.  Thomas  told  me  the  original  of  that  por- 
trait was  dead  and  had  I  not  been  knocked  down  by  a 
crack  on  the  head  I  would  swear  that  I  had  seen  a  ghost, 
and  I  am  no  believer  in  the  supernatural." 

Our  hero  was  completely  mystified,  and  the  more  he 
revolved  the  matter  over  the  mystery  deepened  and  became 
in  its  elements  more  remarkable. 

The  portrait  represented  a  youthful,  sad-faced,  and  very 
delicate  girl,  and  yet  the  blow  that  knocked  him  down  was 
dealt  with  force  one  might  expect  from  a  powerful  athlete. 
Jack  was  a  very  powerful  man  and  no  light  blow  could 
have  knocked  him  from  his  feet. 

Again  he  muttered,  "I  am  completely  nonplused,  but 
as  I  live  I  will  solve  this  mystery." 

On  the  morning  following  the  incident  we  have  described 
the  detective  again  appeared  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Thomas, 
and  when  the  old  lady  with  the  dignified  mien  joined 
him  he  asked: 

"Madam,  did  your  mysterious  thief  appear  last  night?" 
"No,  sir." 

"Let  me  ask  you,  how  many  times  has  the  Nemesis  been 
in  this  house?" 

"I  should  say  three  times." 

"And  the  last  visit?" 

"Was  made  about  a  week  ago." 

The  detective  had  purposely  taken  a  seat  near  the  por- 
trait which  had  so  interested  him  and  he  suddenly 
demanded: 

"!B  the  original  of  that  portrait  dead?" 

"Yes." 

"So  you  told  me." 

"I  did,  and  why  do  you  ask  me  to  repeat  the  declara- 
tion?" 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  ft 

"Because  I  have  another  question  to  ask." 
ry  well,  sir." 

•  you  know  of  any  living  relative  of  the  family  who 
resembles  the  original  of  that  picture?" 

Tin;  woman  hesitated  a  long  time  and  then  asked: 

"  Why  do  yon  ask  me  that  question,  sir?" 

"The  face  appears  like  one  I  have  seen  before." 

"How  long  since?" 

"Within  a  year." 

Again  the  woman  hesitated  a  long  time  and  then  said : 

"I  reckon  it  is  only  a  chance  resemblance;  you  know 
resemblances  are  very  common." 

"  I  have  either  seen  the  original  of  that  picture  or  one 
who  bears  a  resemblance  so  striking  that  it  cannot  be 
accidental." 

u  If  you  saw  the  face  within  a  year  it  was  not  the  original 
of  that  picture,  for  the  original  has  been  dead  nearly  two 
years.  The  party  you  saw  must  have  borne  a  chance 
resemblance." 

Jack  was  more  and  more  mystified  and  finally  he  asked: 

"  What  am  I  to  do  if  I  run  down  the  thief?" 

"  You  are  to  report  to  me." 

"That  is  all?" 

"Yes." 

"I  am  not  to  make  an  arrest?" 

"  No,  all  I  desire  you  to  do  is  to  locate  and  positively 
identify  the  robber." 

"Madam,  let  mo  ask  you;  it  would  appear  that  the 
original  of  that  picture  was  a  blonde." 

"Yes,  sir." 

Tlio  detective,  in  the  brief  glimpse  he  had  of  the  face  of 
the  veiled  girl  who  had  knocked  him  down,  recognized  that 
she  had  dark  hair. 

During  the  talk  recorded  .lack  kept;  hi*  ey-\s  fixed  on 
the  woman  and  he  recognized  that  she  was  very  fur* 


&6  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

and  watchful  and  very  careful  and  guarded  as  to  every 
reply  she  made.  When  he  left  the  house  he  determined 
before  proceeding  further  to  verify  the  story  the  woman 
had  told  him,  and  he  did  with  results  we  will  record  in  the 
following  chapter. 


CHAPTER  II. 

As  WE  have  stated,  Jack  was  convinced  that  there  were 
some  strange  and  weird  elements  in  the  affair  which  he  nad 
in  hand.  He  did  not  know  just  exactly  whom  co  suspect 
as  the  conspirators.  One  fact  was  assured :  there  were  otners 
engaged  in  the  game,  whatever  it  might  Je.  Thus  iar  he 
had  fallen  to  nothing  that  would  indicate  tnat  Mrs.  Thomas 
was  not  an  honorable  woman,  am;  .^iucere  in  all  that  she 
said;  but  one  fact  was  plainly  apparent— whether  honest  or 
otherwise  she  was  nee  absolutely  frank  with  him.  All  she 
had  told  him  might  be  true,  but  she  had  not  told  him  all 
and  then  again  the  one  other  mystery  was  the  marvelous 
strength  of  the  seemingly  delicate  female  who  had  so  deftly 
knocked  him  down. 

The  detective  proceeded  to  the  surrogate's  office  and 
there  he  learned  facts  which  appeared  to  confirm  every 
word  that  had  been  told  him  by  the  woman.  The  facts 
concerning  the  family  appeared  to  be  correct.  The  elder 
brother  had  been  the  contestant  in  the  suit.  The  will  was 
made  in  another  State  where  the  bulk  of  the  property  wa« 
located,  also  all  the  personal  estate.  The  property  in  New 

>rk  was  represented  by  the  old  house  above  mentioned 
which  had  been  the  homestead  of  the  family  for  three 
generations.  The  present  owners  came  into  possession 
under  the  decision  in  the  courts  in  another  State,  and  it 
3came  necessary  to  present  proofs  only  in  New  York  to 
icquire  title,  and  Mrs.  Thomas  was  the  legal  owner  of  the 
Mtate  as  the  heir  of  her  niece,  the  daughter  of  her  half- 


THK  n  7  T(  -a  o  F  jr  i  .v/r.  i  TTA  N.  37 

brother,  who  under  th-  of  the  court  became  sole 

and  took  possession  j:  to  her  death. 

Despite  the  fact  that  the  old  woman's,  statements  were 
fully  confirmed  the  defective,  .-'nice  having  met  the  veiled 
woman  whose  features  he  had  disclosed,  and  also  despite  the 
singular  conditions  under  which  the  mysterious  thief  was 
to  h"  located,  indulged  a  suspicion.  He  was  ;i  natural  an- 
and  he  easily  figured  out  conditions  which  would 
permit  of  the  grossest  frauds,  and  his  final  exclamation 
was: 

"I've  got  a  tangled  mystery  on  my  hands,  but  I'll  get 
at  the  truth  if  it  takes  the  rest  of  my  life." 

-tated,  t!','  ><j  was  fully  possessed  of  a  suspicion 

of  fraud  and  wrong  somewhere.  He  could  not  account  for 
his  suspicion  based  on  any  actual  facts,  but  there  were 
little  indices  which  impressed  themselves  upon  his  mind, 
and  his  suspicions  were  very  positive  and  well  defined. 

He  made  up  his  mind  to  run  down  the  veiled  lady,  and 
the  following  two  days  and  nights  were  devoted  to  strategic 
movements,  barren  of  results  however. 

On  the  third  day  he  received  a  note  asking  him  to  call 
upon  Mrs.  Thomas.  He  went  to  the  house  and  found  the 
lady  laboring  under  u  spell  of  great  excitement  and  she 
told  him  they  had  been  visited  by  the  Nemesis  on  the 
night  previous. 

u  Did  the  thief  get  away  with  anything?"  asked  Jack. 

>,  but  I  now  fear  that  for  some  weird  reason  my  life 
danger." 

"  Will  you  di-srribe  what  occurred?** 

The.  staid   old   woman   told  a  strange,  weird  story  and 

during  the  narration  our  hero  dissected  i  he  tale  and  reached 

his  own  conclusions,      lie  ivmained  -omr  time  in  the  house 

with  Mrs.  Thomas  and  lose  to  go  when 

the  lady  said: 

"I  wish  yoi'  would  wait  here  a  moment,  I  have  some- 
thing to  shcu-  vou." 


38  THE  WITVH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

Mrs.  Thomas  left  the  room  and  Jack  sat  with  his  eyes 
cast  down,  when  a  ray  of  bright  sunlight  shot  in  through  a 
turned  lattice  and  there  revealed  a  single  thread  of  hair. 
Detectives  are  always  on  the  alert  and  always  quick  to  dis- 
cover any  little  thing  within  the  line  of  their  suspicions, 
Jack  picked  up  the  single  thread  of  hair  and  quickly 
ensconced  it  in  an  envelope  and  awaited  the  return  of  Mrs, 
Thomas.  The  lady  soon  put  in  an  appearance  and  after 
showing  the  article  she  wished  him  to  see  asked: 

"Have  you  any  hopes  of  running  down  the  mysterious 
robber?" 

"Oh,  yes." 

"You  understand  fully  that  you  are  to  make  no  arrests. 
You  are  merely  to  locate  and  report." 

"That  is  the  understanding,  madam." 

"If  you  carry  out  your  mission  successfully  your  reward 
will  be  large." 

"I  will  carry  out  my  mission  successfully,  you  need  not 
fear." 

A  little  later  the  detective  departed,  and  proceeding  to  his 
lodging  he  drew  the  strand  of  hair  from  his  pocket  and 
examined  it  carefully  under  a  glass,  and  we  will  disclose 
the  result  by  the  exclamation  he  uttered. 

"I'll  be  hanged  if  it  is  not  a  clear  blond.  It  came  from 
the  head  of  some  blond-haired  miss,  and  let  me  see,  the 
original  of  the  portrait  is  dead.  Hang  me,  if  this  mystery 
is  not  getting  more  and  more  tangled." 

Jack  thought  over  his  talk  and  he  clearly  discovered 
facts  that  were  very  suggestive,  and  not  the  least  of  these 
was  the  command  not  to  arrest  the  thief.  He  was  to  locate 
the  Nemesis  only. 

Jack  started  in  to  trail  Theodore  Peale.  He  had  met 
the  man  several  times  but  knew  very  little  about  him.  He 
lay  one  whole  day  near  the  man's  office  and  late  in  the 
afternoon  got  on  his  track.  Peale  upon  leaving  his  office 


Til!  1A.  39 

went    to   ;i    fashionable    hole]    re- taurant .      Jack,  wlio    waa 
under  a  di  d   tiic  place,  and  saw  a  lady  enter 

short!  who  went .  t-» \vanl  tin-  table  where  Peale  had 

I.  The  man  rose  to  greet  her  and  soon  they  were 
seated  at  the  same  table,  where  they  enjoyed  a  gorgeous 
repast.  Jack  maintained  his  position.  He  studied  the 
woman  well  and  reached  a  conclusion  concerning  her.  She 

handsome  woman,  but  her  beauty  was  of  the  co; 
sort.      Her  manners  also  indicated  a  woman  of  little  refine- 
ment and  one  who  enjoyed  all  manner  of  dissipations. 

When  the  meal  was  concluded  Peale  and  the  woman 
separated,  but  not  before  our  hero  had  managed  to  hear 
the  woman  say: 

"  I  will  see  yon  to-night?" 

The  man  smiled  and  answered: 

"  Possibly  to-morrow  moruing  at  an  hour  not  far  removed 
from  to-night.*' 

It  was  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  Peale 
separated  from  the  lady.  'They  had  been  three  hours  at 
dinner  and  evidently  had  enjoyed  a  merry  time. 

Our  hero  decided  to  follow  the  man  and  he  "lay  "  upon 
his  track  until  he  saw  him  enter  a  gambling  den  which  we 
will  here  state  ruined  inure  men  during  the  year  it  thrived 
than  any  other  gambling  den  that  was  ever  started  in  New 
York. 

I  Vale  entered  the  place  and  became  engaged  in  betting. 

t.  at  high  rates  and  was  a  loser.     Our  hero  ma: 
to  ma  '(uaintance.     As  we   have  stated,  Jack    was 

excellently  disguised   and   lie   felt  lie  could   relv  upon  his 
ise    to    escape    d.  He    and     his    "qu. 

:-arily    quite    intimate.      Peale   was    a    ; 
and    our    hero  had    the    privilege   of  accommodating 
him  with  a  loan  of  lifty  d< 

iVak-  was  a  lilt!.  of  wine  and  then 

ia  the  time   when  heir  caution  and   talk. 


40  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

Jack  calculated  Peale  would  talk  and  he  asked  him  quite 
a  number  of  questions.  He  seemingly  received  "very  frank 
answers,  but  they  were  not  confirmatory  of  any  suspicions 
indulged  by  our  hero. 

It  was  well  on  toward  midnight  when  the  two  men 
separated  and  Jack  fell  again  to  his  man's  trail,  and  to  his 
surprise  he  discovered  that  Peale  even  at  so  late  an  hour 
intended  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Thomas.  Jack 
saw  him  enter  his  aunt's  residence  and  the  detective  man- 
aged to  get  into  the  house.  He  had  been  there  so  often 
he  had  the  plan  of  the  house  \vull  in  his  mind  and  it  was 
an  easy  thing  for  him  to  gain  access.  He  stole  along  and 
discovered  the  nephew  and  aunt  engaged  in  a  consultation. 

"You  have  had  your  own  way  and  this  is  the  result," 
Jack  heard  Peale  say. 

"How  have  I  had  my  own  way?" 

"  We  were  safe  enough,  but  you,  urged  by  unwarranted 
fears,  must  go  and  call  in  a  detective.  In  doing  so  you 
commenced  playing  with  edged  tools." 

"How?" 

"  You  were  anxious  to  discover  and  locate  our  Nemesis." 

"Yes,  it  is  absolutely  necessary.  We  do  not  know  at 
what  moment  our  secret  may  be  disclosed." 

"You  feared  the  "Nemesis." 

"  I  had  reason  to  do  so,  as  I  am  assured  that  an  avenger 
is  on  our  track.  Theodore,  it  is  too  great  a  property  to 
lose." 

"  We  were  all  right.  Had  you  not  acted  on  your  own 
responsibility  we  should  have  been  all  right." 

"You  do  not  appreciate  the  danger." 

"Yes,  I  do;  but  we  could  have  trapped  the  Nemesis 
ourselves." 

"You  expressed  fear." 

"But  that  did  not  mean  surrender." 

"  How  have  1  surrendered  ?" 


:   WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  41 

"By  calling  in  this  detective.  He  is  more  dangerous 
than  the  Nemesis." 

"N" 

"I  have  something  very  startling  to  tell  you." 

"Indeed!" 

"Yes." 

"Tell  me." 

"That  man  is  not  'piping'  the  Nemesis." 

"  What  is  he  doing?'' 

"'Piping'  vs." 

The  woman  stared  and  after  a  moment  demanded: 

"  What  do  you  mean?" 

"Just  what  I  say;  that  man  is  'piping'  us." 

"Why  should  he  'pipe'  us?" 

"Because  by  some  strange  and  possibly  occult  process 
he  has  fallen  to  the  suspicion  that  there  is  something 
wrong." 

"  How  do  you  know  he  is  'piping'  us?" 

"I  know  it  well  enough." 

"  You  were  always  a  suspicious  man,  my  son." 

The  detective  had  been  informed  that  Theodore  Peale 
was  the  nephew  of  Mrs.  Thomas,  and  now  the  woman 
called  him  "my  son,"  and  Jack  had  learned  facts  that  con- 
firmed his  suspicions.  Indeed  it  had  ceased  to  be  a  suspi- 
cion. He  was  well  assured  that  some  great  deed  of  wrong 
aad  been  committed  and  these  people  were  scheming  to 
hide  their  tracks  and  make  their  deed  a  permanent 
success. 

"  I  may  be  a  suspicious  man,  and  my  suspicions  are  well 
confirmed  this  time." 

"  Yon  say  hu  is  4  piping'  us?" 
.•3." 

"You  must  have  some  proof." 

"I  huve." 

"What  is  your  proof?" 


4%  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"He  was  'piping'  me  this  very  night.  I  played  my  part 
well." 

"He  was  'piping'  you  this  night?" 

"He  was." 

"What  nonsense!" 

"It  is  true,  and  I  tell  yon  a  more  dangerous  foe  is  on 
our  track  than  the  Nemesis,  or  the  Witch  of  Manhattan,  as 
the  feller  calls  our  dummy." 

A  second  great  disclosure  was  made  to  the  detective. 
There  had  been  no  robberies;  the  schemers  were  using  a 
dummy  to  rob  themselves  and  this  disclosure  opened  up 
the  fact  that  there  must  be  a  real  heir  somewhere,  a  victim 
of  a  deep  and  well-laid  conspiracy.  Jack  was  indeed  » 
wonder  in  his  ability  to  put  facts  together. 

There  followed  a  few  moments'  silence  broken  at  length 
by  the  woman,  who  said: 

"  Do  you  really  mean  to  tell  me  that  the  detective  has 
been  'piping'  you?" 

"I  do." 

"And  you  are  sure?" 

"lam." 

"What  can  be  his  purpose?" 

"He  suspects  something  wrong.  We  could  not  carry 
out  such  a  scheme  as  w^  have  and  be  able  to  conceal  every 
little  fact  liable  to  arouse  suspicion.  I  knew  that  we  were 
all  right  until  3rou  called  in  this  man." 

"I  thought  we  might  locate  and — <    Well,  you  know." 
,     "  Oh,  yes,  that  part  of  it  was  all  right.     We  did  it  suc- 
cessfully in  one  case  but  we  should  not  have  employed  any 
one  as  keen  as  a  detective  to  do  the  locating." 

"We  have  tried  ourselves  and  failed." 

"It  is  true,  but  in  the  end  we  would  have  succeeded." 

"Or  at  any  moment  all  might  have  been  exposed,"  said 
the  woman.  "  It  was  necessary  that  we  should  act  quickly." 

"We  must  act  quickly  now." 


THK  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  43 

"How  so?" 

"Undo  the  mischief  that  has  been  done — in  other  words 
remove  the  peril  \\v  have  invited." 

"  What  do  you  muan?" 
That  detective." 

-Well?" 

"Unless  something  is  done  onr  game  will  be  defeated. 
We  are  winners.  We  hold  on,  however,  by  a  very  slender 
thread  at  present.  Suppose  the  detective  and  the  Nemesis 
should  come  together?" 

"Well?" 

*  Jt  would  be  good-day  to  us,  or  rather  to  the  millions." 

"And  what  can  we  do?" 

"I'll  tell  you." 

"Do  so." 

"  We  must  get  rid  of  the  detective." 

"That  can  be  done  easily  enough." 

"It  can?" 

"Yes." 

"How?" 

"I  will  dismiss  him." 

The  man  laughed. 

"Why  do  you  laugh?" 

"  Well,  it  is  very  astonishing,  mother,  that  a  woman  as 
cunning  and  clear-headed  in  some  things  should  be  so  weak 
and  near-sighted  in  others." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"You  say  you  will  dismiss  the  detective." 

"Certainly." 

"What  will  he  care?" 

"That  will  take  him  out  of  the  case." 

"You  think  so?" 

"Why  not?" 

"Why,  mother,  it  will  start  him  in.  Yes,  we  have  made 
a  great  mistake." 


4*  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"We  have  the  money." 

"Yes." 

"  What  can  we  not  do  with  all  this  wealth  absolutely  at 
our  disposal?" 

"  We  can  do  a  great  deal,  but  it  is  hard  to  think  that  you 
should  haye  invited  a  Nemesis  number  two." 

"Who  is  the  Nemesis  number  two?" 

"The  detective." 

"And  you  really  think  he  is  dangerous?" 

"I  know  he  is." 

"We  will  get  rid  of  him." 

"Not  by  a  dismissal." 

The  detective  peeped  and  saw  the  woman's  face.     It 
assumed  an  expression  simply  fiendish  as  she  said: 

"Yes,  by  a  simple  dismissal." 

"Never." 

"You  do  not  appear  to  understand  me." 

"Tell  me." 

"  We  will  dismiss  him.     Yes,  and  he  will  not  trouble  us." 

"Do  not  talk  in  riddles." 

"We  will  kill  him." 

"  We  must;  but  we  thereby  invite  a  second  peril.     It  is 
not  an  easy  affair  to  put  a  detective  out  of  the  way." 

"We  will  do  it,  easy  or  not  easy." 

"We  must  do  something,  for  I  tell  you  in  plain  word* 
that  man  is  on  our  track." 

"To-morrow  1  will  arrange  to  dispose  of  that  man." 

"Oh,  yes,  and  invite  new  complications.     It  is   very 
unfortunate." 

"How  will  I  invite  new  complications?" 

"In  disposing  of  this  man." 

"Leave  it  to  me." 

"What  will  you  attempt?" 

;< Never  mind.     He  will  he  out  of  the  way." 

"  Will  you  explain  how  you  mean  to  do  it?" 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  ZT.  •  45 

"He  will  enter  this  house  .some  day  and   never  leave  it." 

man  thought  u  moment  ami  .said: 

"That  is  the  only  way  you  can  do  it.     The  deed  must 
not  be  entrusted  to  any  mu-  else." 
"  Y"ii  can  leave  it,  to  me." 

A  little  later  Theodore  Peale  left  the  house  flnd  the 
detective  determined  to  stay  in  the  house,  and  after 
the  old  woman  had  retired  to  her  own  room  he  had  ample 
time  to  revolve  over  in  his  mind  the  remarkable  disclosures 
verieg  that  had  come  to  him.  He  could  not 
understand  why  the  woman  called  her  nephew  her  sou,  or 
her  son  her  nephew.  There  was  some  deep  design  in  that 
singular  {':>>•(.  Indeed,  the  whole  matter  was  each  moment 

niiig  a  deeper  and  deeper  mystery. 

-Ia<'k    had    nisconeed    himself   in    the   parlor.      He   lay 

lieil  upon  a  sofa  and  he  was  engaged  in  deep  study. 

He  was  battled  as  to  a  solution  of  all  the  complications. 

•ailed  the  finding  of  the  strand  of  hair  and  this  led 

him  into  a  train  of  thought.     He  had  "piped"  down  to 

•  •upants  of  the  house  and  could  only  identify  three 

iding  in   the  old   homestead — Mrs.  Thomas 

and  a  man  and  woman,  both   the  latter  foreigners,  and  as 

far  as  he  could  discern  they  were  Swedes.     Then,  as  stated, 

he  recalled  the  strand  of  blond  hair  and  he  muttered: 

"  There  is  one  occupant  of  this  house  I  have  not  seen 

The  words  had  hardly  escaped  hi.--  lips  when  he  beheld  a 
sight  that  caused  him    to   lie   and  stare  like  one   par  i1 
:          It  that  he  was  gazing  upon  an  apparition.      A  K-male 

robed  in  pure  white  suddenly  appeared  in  tlu1 

In  her  hand  t!.  an  ied  a  little  lamp  and  she 

1    with    a   Blo  a   regular    Lady   Macbeth 

but  the  feature-  were  hear. til'1.'.!,  and  the 

LT€    made  a    second    \  iling    discovery.     The 

apparition  bore  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  the  portrait— 


TBa  W1WB  OP  MANBATTAIT. 


,„„«„,,, 


He  ood          a 


operations  tW  h  red  that  for 

T^fXh±^Jejriwrtiiii*:*; 

gained  the  street  he  nn,tlt,  '        '  f°rth  all<3  8S  he 


n    eu 
I  will  soon  «fl  Sth' 


"' 


TV/  IN.  47 

v  the  blond  lady  would  remain  in  the 
house.  future  d.iy  he  could  trail  down  to  discover 

her.      Tht'iv  weiv  other  fads  IK.-  needed  t->  ,-mdy. 

•  •ur   readers  know  Jack  had  been    to    the  surrogate's 
otlice   and    had    ascertained   considerable,    and    all    he   had 
It-arm- 1   appeared    to  con  linn   the   story    the   woman   had 
••.oil  to  him,  and  it  was  just  here  where  he  wi  atly 

tilled.  He  deVrminecl  to  know  more  and  on  the  morn- 
ing following  the  incidents  we  have  described  he  packed 
his  valise  and  left  town. 

Jack's  destination  was  the  city  where  the  trial  had  taken 
place.  He  determined  to  learn  from  the  records  and  other 
sources  the  real  facts  of  the  great  suit  that  had  lasted  so 
many  years,  and  which  had  been  so  stubbornly  contested. 

Jack  arrived  in  the  town  and  had  little  trouble  in  getting 
on  to  many  facts  not  interesting  to  our  readers.  lie 
learned  the  name  of  the  counsel  for  the  contestant  and 
from  him  learned  some  very  startling  facts.  lie  learned 
that  there  had  been  two  contestants.  Contestant  number 
two  claimed  to  bo  a  sou  of  the  younger  brother  in  whoso 
favor  the  decision  was  finally  given,  but  absolute  proof  was 
furnished  that  this  young  man  was  an  illegitimate  offspring, 
his  own  mother  appearing  and  admitting  the  facts  under 
nination. 

We  will  hero  state  that  the  cross  examination  to  which 
this  mother  was  subjected  did  not  compare  to  the  one  i 
ducted  by   the  detective  in  his  interview  with   the  lawyer, 
and  the  clear,  discerning  mind  of  our  hero  perceived  little 
suggestions  which  appeared    to  point  to  one  of  the  n 
skillfully  arranged  plots  ever  conceived  for  the  stealing  of 
millions.    And  when  Jack  ( 'aswell  took  the  train  to  return 
to  New  York   he   had  mapped  out  a  line  of    i  -ion 

which  promised  great  re.Mills.     He  knew  all  he  would  ha\ 
contend  with,  he  full  ,  fl  he  would  encounter, 

for  he    :  '••/d  that,  the  !  a   hold   and   des* 


48  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAN. 


The  detective  arrived  i 


Fh    detectn-e  d,d  not  go  near  the  woman  Mrs   Thomas 
nntal  he  rece.ved  a  message  from  her  requesting  h  to  to  ca 

°'ci--  j-  —  .it: 


-  «•«  .i 

any  progress?"  ^  ^- 

"I  am  surprised  at  your  non-success  " 
'We  cannot  do  these  things  in  a  day,  madam." 
'  have  been  some  creeks  engaged  on  the  case 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAN.  40 

"Are  you  1,  madam?" 

"I  will  be  frank,  I  did  think  something  would  be  accom- 
plished by  this  time." 

••  Do  you  wL-li  to  employ  some  one  else?" 

-  Now  you  are  taking  an  advantage." 

"I  jim?" 

"Yes." 

"How?" 

"I  have  given  you  my  confidence;  I  do  not  feel  like  giv- 
ing it  to  another.  It  is  a  very  delicate  business." 

The  detective  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  woman  and  asked : 

"Why  should  it  be,  my  dear  madam?  If  it  is  an  ordi- 
nary case  of  robbery  it  is  simply  to  find  the  thief;  but  you 
exact  very  peculiar  conditions." 

"You  think  so?" 

"I  do." 

"Y^ou  are  at  liberty  to  withdraw  from  the  case." 

"I  am  perfectly  willing  to  do  so,  madam." 

The  woman  was  thoughtful  and  there  came  a  wicked 
look  in  her  usually  cold,  gleaming  eyes. 

"I  do  not  wish  you  to  do  so.  I  know  you  are  an  honor- 
able man  and  you  have  the  reputation  of  being  a  very 
shrewd  man.  I  should  think  you  could  locate  the  thief." 

"Madam,  I  have  done  all  I  could  to  locate  the  thief." 

"You  have  the  most  accurate  descriptions  of  her 
appearances." 

"Yes,  mudam,  and  that  is  all  I  can  get  from  any  of  her 
•victims." 

There  was  great  significance  in  the  detective's  last  state> 
ment  and  it  was  a  true  one.  All  he  could  get  from  the 
victims  of  tho  thief  was  ;i  description,  no  little  facts  or 
clews  that  might  lead  to  a  <U'U-<'{i<m. 

"You  once  proposed  to  remain  overnight  in  this  house." 

"I  did,  madam." 

"At  that  time  I  declined    to   permit   you  to  do  so.     I 


50  THE  MITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

now    desire    that    you    remain    here   several    nights    in 
succession." 

"For  what  purpose?" 
"I  think  you  can  catch  the  thief." 
"All  right,  I  will  remain  here  to-night." 
"How  shall  we  prepare  for  your  remaining?" 
"  You  need  make  no  preparations  at  all,  madam.     I  will 
simply   remain  in  the  parlor  and    conduct  my  campaign 
according  to  my  own  plan." 

"Let  me  tell  you  there  are  reasons  why  I  am  very 
anxious  to  capture  the  thief.  After  the  capture  all  the 
evidence  you  need  will  be  forthcoming.  Conviction  is 
assured  and  then  you  will  receive  the  largest  fee  yon  ever 
received  in  your  whole  experience  as  a  detective." 

Our  hero  especially  noted  the  statement  "After  the  cap- 
ture all  the  evidence  will  be  forthcoming."  Here  also  was 
a  very  grave  suggestion  in  connection  with  all  the  facts 
he  had  in  his  possession. 

"Then  you  will  remain  here  to-night?" 
"I  will." 

The  woman  and  the  detective  had  extended  their  inter- 
view beyond  eleven  o'clock  and  Jack  had  said: 

"I  will  insist  that  not  a  person  leave  their  room  after 
twelve  o'clock.  I  will  not  be  answerable  for  the  conse- 
quences." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"It  may  be  that  I  will  be  compelled  to  shoot.  I  do  not 
wish  to  make  a  mistake." 

Jack  watched  the  woman's  face  closely  as  he  made  the 
statement  and  beheld  an  expression  that  spoke  volumes  to 
him,  and  the  woman  said  unguardedly: 
"  That  would  be  a  short  way  out  of  it." 
"  What  would  be  a  short  way  out?" 
"Were  you  to  shoot  the  thief  down." 
"I  may  be  compelled  to  do  so." 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  51 

ulf  yon  do  you  will  earn  your  reward  ami  it  will  be  a 
large  one." 

Tin-,  detective  was  leading  the  woman  on.  lie  was 
gaining  verification  of  his  darkest  suspicions. 

••  Very  well,  madam,  you  had  better  retire  arid  leave  the 
house  to  me  for  the  rest  of  the  night." 

Jack  believed  some  attempt  was  to  be  made  against  his 
life,  and  he  had  spoken  under  the  inspiration  of  that 
suspicion. 

The  woman  finally  retired  and  our  hero  was  left 
in  possession  of  the  lower  part  of  the  house,  and  once 
alone  he  revolved  over  in  his  mind  all  the  possibili- 
ties. He  did  not  anticipate  meeting  with  any  one 
from  without.  He  did  expect  to  meet  wita  some  one 
from  within  the  old  house.  When  once  alone  the 
detective  fixed  himself  on  the  sofa.  He  was  well 
armed,  he  knew  his  weapons  were  in  good  order  and  he 
determined  to  be  on  the  alert  and  there  dwelt  in  his  mind 
hut  two  subjects  for  study:  The  fact  that  all  the  evidence 
was  promised  after  capture,  and  the  fact  that  the  death  of 
the  thief  would  end  matters  most  satisfactorily. 

Twelve  o'clock  passed  and  not  a  sound  had  been  heard 
once,  so  one  o'clock  and  two  o'clock,  and  it  was  well  on  to 
three  o'clock  when  our  hero  became  aware  that  some  one 
was  moving  about  in  the  room.  He  drew  his  club.  He 
placed  more  reliance  upon  his  locust  than  he  did  upon  a 
pistol  in  the  darkness,  and  as  he  sat  and  listened  the  query 
was  presented — what  is  the  game?  It  Was  a  critical 
moment  and  death  hung  in  the  air.  It,  w,  ;;ry  that 

he  should  be  very  careful,  and  yet  it   was  equally  neces.- 

.t  he  should  change  his  position,  and  the  chances  were 
the  party  or  parties  moving  in  that  room  knew  his  position 
exactly. 

Jack  believed  it  was  an  assassin.  He  believed  he  was 
the  intended  victim;  in  fact,  he  had  ciphered  out  tlie 


52  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAN. 

whole  programme  for  getting  him  out  of  the  way.  The 
people  had  indeed  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  in  em- 
ploying him  they  were  playing  with  dangerous  tools. 

Our  hero  with  a  movement  as  noiseless  as  that  of  a 
mouse  slid  from  the  sofa  to  the  floor  and  then  he  crawled 
off  to  one  side,  and  as  he  lay  still  again  he  mentally 
'declared  he  would  give  a  thousand  dollars  just  to  flash  his 
lantern  light  for  one  second,  but  he  did  not  dare  do  it. 
But  as  the  moments  passed  he  became  perplexed  and 
finally  he  questioned  of  himself: 

"Can  it  be  possible  that  indeed  a  thief  has  entered  the 
house?" 

Jack  had  been  very  noiseless,  but  he  soon  had  reason  to 
believe  that  the  party  knew  of  his  presence  and  that 
brought  him  around  to  his  original  conclusion.  The  seem- 
ing intruder  was  some  one  who  knew  of  his  presence  before 
entering  the  room  and  there  the  party  stood.  There  was 
just  sufficient  light  for  the  detective  to  see  halfway  across 
the  room.  The  individual  was  in  the  shadow  beyond. 
Jack  was  trying  to  discern  when  the  party  moved  a  little 
and  came  within  the  area  of  light,  and  the  detective  made 
a  discovery  which  changed  all  his  ideas.  He  discovered 
that  the  mystery  was  a  woman.  He  could  only  see  her  in 
dim  outline  but  the  latter  fact  was  fully  established. 
Jack  was  perplexed.  It  being  a  woman  dismissed  the 
suspicion  of  harm  intended  to  him,  and  it  made  plausible 
the  possibility  that  after  all  the  thief  theory  was  genuine, 
and  that  at  that  moment  he  was  gazing  upon  the  veritable 
Witch  of  Manhattan. 

"Where  am  I  at?"  he  muttered.  "It  does  seem  that  in 
some  directions  these  people  are  proving  their  statements 
to  be  true." 

The  next  consideration  was,  what  should  he  do?  Who 
was  the  woman?  If  not  the  Witch  was  it  possible  it  was 
the  iron-limbed  female  who  had  knocked  him  down  that 
night  when  off  his  guard? 


i  TTA  y  53 

Hei1  :   to  another  fact;  the  intruder  was 

with  him 
if  he  iii'hvd  int-<i:  ;iture,  and  that  was  his  game. 

detective    had    taken   his  observations  while  lying 

r.p-m  tlie  floor.      He  slowly  rose  to  his  feet  and  started  to 

•e  toward    the  figure  of  the  woman,  when  suddenly 

.  a  report  and  a  crush,  and  ere  our  hero 

could  recover  from  his  .surprise,  for  ho  was  taken  by  snr- 

e,  tlio  intruder  vanished. 

Jack  made  an  r'T.irt  at  pursuit.     At  the  same  instant  he 

QQ  aware   that  the  house   had    been   aroused.     Mrs. 

Thomn.-;  came   rushing  down   the  stairs  carrying  a  light. 

the  ottlcer  in  the.  hall  and  she  demanded: 
••  [la\  •  you  killed  him;'" 

Jack,  despite  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  noted  the 
inquiry  "  Have  you  killed  him  9" 

"No,  madam,  I  just  escaped  with  my  own  life." 
ML;  fired  at  you?" 

'.'es,  madam,  he  fired  at  me." 
"  Was  it  a  man?"  the  woman  demanded. 

k  saw  that  she  had  fallen  to  her  error  and  was  evasive, 
answering: 

"  I  can  hardly  tell;  it  was  in  the  dark." 
"  And  the  thief  fired  at  you?" 


"How  unfortunate!" 

"I  think  it  was  very  fortunate." 


"That  I  waa  not  killed." 

%<  VMM  are  a  man  of  courage.  " 

dam,  any    Mian   can   be   murdered.     Courage  is  no 

'inst  murder." 
•k  1  wish  you  had  iirrl  and  your  aim  had  been  true." 

.ot  much  eh;'ii<v  f,,r  aiming  in  the  dark." 
"  And  the  thi 


54  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"Yes." 

"I  suppose  you  can  retire  now." 

"Yes,  madam." 

"Will  yon  go  oil  duty  to-morrow  night?" 

"I  will." 

Jack  went  forth  to  the  street  and  he  was  very  thought 
fnl  and  muttered : 

"It's  a  mystery;  it's  a  mystery.  That  woman  is  indeed 
very  deep  and  cunning  and  I  had  a  narrow  escape.  She 
told  her  sou  she  would  down  me.  Well,  she  came  very 
near  making  good  her  promise.  JSro,  no,  I  see  through  it 
all  now.  She  intended  to  throw  me  off  when  she  asked 
'Did  he  shoot  or  did  you  shoot  him?'  A  great  game, 
madam;  yes,  a  great  game.  You  played  the  thief  well! 
All  right,  the  next  time  I  may  do  the  shooting  and  the 
thief  may  be  winged  at  least." 

The  detective's  soliloquy  as  recorded  will  indicate  to  our 
readers  the  line  of  his  suspicion.  He  believed  the  thief 
business  had  been  a  ruse  and  a  part  of  the  plan  to  murder 
him  and  get  him  out  of  the  way.  A  knowledge  of  tl:e 
game  of  an  enemy  is  always  of  great  advantage  to  a  good 
detective.  Jack  was  a  good  detective  and  he  was  prepared 
to  keep  another  vigil  and  give  Mrs.  Thomas  another 
opportunity  to  play  her  game.  "I'll  solve  that  end  of  the 
mystery  next  time,"  he  muttered. 

On  the  day  following  the  adventure  we  have  describee! 
Jack  called  upon  the  woman.  He  found  her  cool  and  calm 
'as  usual  and  she  again  expressed  her  regret  that  he  had  not 
downed  the  intruder. 

"Never  mind,  madam,  I  escaped  and  the  next  time  I 
will  have  a  different  tale  to  tell.  I  may  show  you  a  dead 
thief." 

"I  hope  you  may,  and  you  will  bo  well  satisfied  with 
your  reward." 

That  night  Jack  was  on  his  way  to  the  house  when  he 


;  '/"/'. 4  2V. 

The,  lath']1  was  going  t- 
on  his  mother. 

")d   enouu-h,"  muttered   our  hero.     "I    will   have  a 
>W   to  hciir   her   tell  her  dear  boy   how   near  she 
to  hiving  out  the  'dangerous  tool,'  the  de  tee  live." 

?  the  son   enter  the  house.      It   was  after  elovon 
A.     The  detective  managed  to  gain  an  entrance  also 
«tnd  he  was  at  his  ju.-.-t  ready  to  listen  just  as  Mrs.  Thomas 
M,  so  he  overheard  her  very  iirst  words  and 
itartlingly  confirmatory  of  his  latest  susjii- 
"  \\Y11,  auntie,  did  yon  succeed  in  downing  your  detec» 
tivi 

j  >,  and  I  have  something  to  tell  you." 
"Well?" 

am  vindicated." 
"  Von  are  vindicated?" 
"  M  v  jioliev  i.-:  vindicated." 

Mt  : 

"  Yes." 
"How:" 

"I  had  the  detective  on  watch  here  last  night." 
"Well?" 

.  nd  h?  came," 
"He  did?" 

"Yes." 
«W< 

"  I/r  almost.  kilh:d  the  detective." 

at  se.i  once  niore.     In  those  few  words  the 
•  an  had  dispelled  i  suspicion. 

-What  hap]  .1   IVale. 

"As   I   tuld  you,  I   had    the  (Jett-.-tive  on  wateli  and  he 

•  him,  made  an  attempt  to 

pistol  at  the  oflicer  at  short 

"  An<l  inir-se,!  hi 


66  THtt  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"Yes." 

"How  unfortunate." 

Jack's  original  suspicion  was  reyived  but  even  within  the* 
moment  it  was  dispelled  again  as  the  woman  said: 

"It  was  not  unfortunate.  That  detective  is  our  only 
hope.  Next  time  it  will  be  the  other  way." 

"How?" 

"The  detective  will  shoot,  and  then  we  can  defy  the 
Vorld;  all  will  be  over." 

"Mother,  you  exaggerate  the  danger.  In  my  opinion 
there  is  more  danger  from  the  detective  than  from  the 
other  quarter." 

Peale  sometimes  addressed  his  mother  as  auntie  and  at 
other  times  he  used  the  more  endearing  title. 

"You  fear  the  detective?" 

"I  do." 

"And  I  fear  him.  We  have  underrated  him  all  these 
years.  He  is  a  man  now,  and  each  hour  becomes  more 
dangerous." 

"Great  Scott!"  was  the  detective's  ejaculation  under  his 
breath.  Those  few  words  were  the  most  extraordinary 
confirmation  he  had  received,  and  he  muttered: 

"I  begin  to  see  light  now." 

"I  fear  the  detective,"  said  Peale. 

"That  is  only  an  idea  of  yours." 

:<No,  the  man  has  been  dogging  me  as  I  told  you,  and 
he  is  ferreting  out  concerning  some  ore  else.  He  is  play- 
ing  a  deep  game  and  it  is  against  us.  It  is  a  pity  you  ever 
ualled  him  in;  everything  was  all  right.  We  have  played 
the  greatest  game  ever  attempted.  We  have  played  it 
successfully— we  have  won  a  million." 

"What  you  say  is  true,  b»t  remember  w§  had  a  great 
many  confederates.  Any  one  of  them  may  get  sour  aud 

communicate  with  the  one  person  and  then- " 

"Bah!  we  would  have  been  all  right,  but  now  I  feel  the 
greatest  alarm." 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  5\ 

"Yon  do?" 

"I  do." 

"And  the  detective  is  yonr  bugbear?" 

"Hois." 

"  That  man  is  devoted  to  his  own  interests  and  therefore 
to  ours.  I  tell  you  within  a  few  weeks  I  will  have  the 
one  we  fear  and  have  reason  to  fear  where  he  will  do  no 
harm,  and  then  the  detective  and  all  our  other  confederates 
become  harmless." 

"I  have  a  plan." 

"What  is  your  plan?"  \ 

"Let  us  turn  everything  into  cash  and  get  away." 

"No  need." 

"You  can  sell  the  real  estate." 

"  We  must  not  call  attention  to  our  doings  so  soon. 
Remember  there  are  those  who  understand  our  whole  game, 
but  what  they  lack  is  proof.  Let  us  once  get  rid  of  him 
and  then  we  can  sell  and  go  or  hold  and  stay  with  none  to 
molest  us  or  make  us  afraid.  I  tell  you  we  are  not  safe  as 
long  as  he  lives." 

"  You  promised  to  get  rid  of  the  detective." 

"I've  changed  my  mind." 

"And  I  tell  you  he  is  the  one  we  have  most  to  fear. 
He  is  liable  at  any  moment  to  get  in  contact  with  him,  if 
he  has  not  already,  and  then  where  are  we?  I  tell  you 
the  detective  must  be  put  where  he  can  do  no  harm,  or 
thu  day  will  come  when  he  will  put  us  where  we  will  be 
harmless." 

The  detective  had  heard  enough  and  left  the  house,  and 
once  again  by  himself  lie  muttered: 

"lean  have  no  misunderstanding  now,  all  is  plain  and 
clear.  Tin;  mystery  is  solved.  All  that  is  lacking  is  the 
evidence,  and  1  will  get  the  e\  iik-nce." 

Jack  was  walking  alonic  in  a  thoughtful  mood  and 
muttered  unconsciously  aloud: 


5b  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"I  wish  I  could  find  that  mysterious  7m/?." 

The  words  were  still  echoing  along  through  the  night 
when  suddenly  our  hero  was  confronted  by  a  woman.  As 
usual  she  was  veiled,  but  Jack  was  not  at  a  loss  as  to  her 
identity.  The  woman  advanced  to  him  boldly  and  asked: 

"Are  you  an  officer?" 

"I  am." 

"Your  name  is  Caswell?" 

"That  is  my  name." 

"Will  you  go  with  me?" 

"Why  should  I  go  with  you?" 

"I  think  I  can  aid  you." 

"Aid  me?" 

"Yes." 

"In  what?" 

"In  your  present  business." 

"What  is  my  present  business?" 

"You  are  seeking  to  solve  a  mystery." 

"  And  you  -can  aid-  me?" 

"I  can." 

"How?" 

"Come  with  n.e." 

"All  right,  I  will  go  with  you;  lead  on." 

The  woman  led  the  way  and  the  detective  followed. 
He  did  not  attempt  to  remove  the  veil  or  seek  to  establish 
the  identity  of  the  woman — he  felt  well  assured  as  to  her 
identity.  She  was  the  woman  with  the  strong  arm — the 
•woman  he  had  seen  in  the  old  house  and  who  had  shot  at 
him,  and  indeed  at  last  he  was  nearing  the  goal.  Neithei 
spoke  as  they  walked  along  and  Jack  was  not  surprised 
when  invited  to  enter  a  coach.  He  followed  the  woman 
into  the  carriage,  but  he  was  watchful  and  ready  at  any 
moment  to  grasp  his  weapons  or  his  inevitable  "billy." 


THK  WfTCJI  YffATTAN.  59 


CIIAPTKR    III. 

THE  <'ARRiA<;r:   wa--  driven  for   fully   an   hoar.     Jack 

knew   'm  was  being  driven  out  of  town  and  yet  made  no 

.est,  nor  did  he  ask  a  single  question      He  was  on  the 

)lution  of  a  great  mystery  and  that  was  suffi- 

lle  was  ready  to  take  all  chances,  brave  all  perils. 

In  good   time  the  carriage  was  stopped.     The  woman 
alighted  and  in  a  tone  of  command  said : 
Follow." 

Jack  obeyed.  Tie  was  ready  at  that  moment  and  tinder 
all  the  circumstances  to  follow  to  heaven  or.  the  other  place. 
Thd  woman  led  the  way  up  an  embankment  ami  a  little 
later  there  could  be  seen  the  glimmer  of  light  through  the 
darkness. 

"I  wish  you  to  accompany  me  to  that  house,"  said  his 
conductress. 

The  woman  spoke  in  very  commanding  tones.  Indeed 
for  a  female  all  her  movements  and  her  words  were  very 
decisive. 

The  two  soon  reached  the  house,  a  building  which  was 
but  a  slight  advance  on  a  shanty.  Once  within  the  door 
Jack  looked  around.  Only  rude  furniture  fell  under  his 
observation,  and  on  a  common  deal  table  stood  a  kerosene 
lamp.  The  woman  pointed  to  a  seat  near  the  window. 
Jack  settled  himself  as  directed,  the  woman  closed  the  door 
and  seated  herself  at  the  table  in  a  position  facing  her 
visitor. 

"  Von  do  not  appear  to  be  surprised,"  said  the  woman, 
who  had  not  removed  her  veil. 

"I  am  surprised  all  the  same." 

44  You  are?" 

"lam." 

*  Yon  have  an  excellent  way  of  concealing  your  surprise." 

"Yes,  that  is  my  way  usually." 


80  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"Have  you  no  questions  to  ask?" 

"No." 

"How  is  that?" 

"I  propose  to  let  you  do  the  talking." 

"Yon  are  a  friend  of  Mrs.  Thomas,"  said  the  woman 
abruptly. 

"Oh!  am  I?" 

"Are  you  not?" 

"You  appear  to  know.5' 

'•"Will  you  answer  me?" 

*We  will  assume  I  am  her  dear  friend." 

•*You  are  a  very  cautious  man." 

««  Yes." 

"But  you  are  an  honest  man." 

"I  trust  you  are  also,"  said  the  detective. 

The  woman  gave  a  start.  Jack  wished  that  at  the  moment 
he  could  have  seen  her  face,  but  the  aggravating  veil 
intervened. 

"Did  you  consider  your  words?"  came  the  question. 

"I  did." 

"Fully?" 

"Yes." 

"You  said  I  \? as  an  honest  man." 

"Did  I?" 

"You  did." 

"I  said  I  trusted  you  were  also." 

"They  were  not  idle  words?" 

"No." 

"Will  you  explain?" 

"No." 

"You  are  very  abrupt." 

"lam." 

"Why:" 

"Because  I  am  here  to  listen  to  you.  I've  got  nothing 
to  say  only  in  answer  to  what  you  say." 


THE  WITCH  OF  MA  NHATTAN.  $\ 

«  Your  name  is  Jack  Caswell." 

"That  is  correct." 

"  You  are  a  detective." 

"Correct  again." 

"You  are  employed  by  Mrs.  Thomas." 

"Correct  again." 

"What  are  yon  to  do?" 

•l  You  know  so  much  concerning  my  affairs  you  should 
know  niy  special  eniploymeut." 

"I  trust  you  will  an^vei'  my  question." 

"I  may  on  one  condition." 

i%  Name  your  condition." 

"I  wish  to  see  your  face." 

"  What  has  that  to  do  with  your  answering  my  question?" 

"I  wish  to  know  the  person  who  addresses  the  question." 

"It  does  not  matter." 

"But  it  does." 

"And  are  you  particularly  anxious  to  see  my  face?" 

"  \o,  but  I  make  it  a  condition." 

The  woman  removed  her  veil  and  Jack  for  once  in  his 
life  started  in  dire  amazement.  He  had  anticipated 
beholding  a  youthful  face;  instead  he  saw  one  of  the  most 
hideous-looking  physiognomies  he  had  ever  beheld.  In- 
deed his  surprise  was  so  great  that  for  a  moment  he 
remained  Bpeechl 

Tlio  woman  laughed  in  a  manner  that  was  really  |tar- 
tling.  It  appeared  as  though  he  were  confronted  by  some 
witch  who  had  undergone  a  marvelous  transformation.  As 
the  creature's  whole  manner  changed,  even  the  tones  of 
»ioe,  a  chill  permeated  the  detective  as  this  seeininglj 
old  horror  asked : 

"Are  you  .surprised  i 

«lam> 

"I  have  fulfilled  your  condition —you  have  seen  my  face." 

"  Y'es,  and  you  can  cover  it  up  auain." 


C2  THE  WITCH  OF  3TANHA  TTAN. 

This  permission  appeared  to  amuse  the  old  horror  and 
she  said: 

"You  don't  think  I  am  very  beautiful,  do  you?" 

"Hardly." 

"  You  expected  to  behold  a  charming  young  girl?" 

"Sure." 

"You  can  answer  my  question  now." 

"No." 

"Why  not?" 

"I  am  not  answering  questions  to  an  old  witch." 

"Ha!  ha!"  laughed  the  creature,  "I  am  the  Witch  of 
Manhattan,  the  real  old  genuine  Knickerbocker  Witch." 

"I  reckon  you  tell  the  truth,"  said  Jack,  in  a  peculiar 
tone. 

"I  have  fulfilled  the  condition— ^answer  my  question." 

"Repeat  it." 

"What  are  you  employed  to  do?" 

"I  may  scare  you  if  I  answer." 

"No." 

"You  are  sure  you  will  not  scare?" 

"lam." 

"I  am  employed  to  catch  the  Witch  of  Manhattan." 

The  creature  laughed. 

"You  do  not  scare,"  said  Jack. 

"No." 

"Haven't  we  had  fun  enough?" 

"Yes." 

"Then  let's  get  down  to  business." 

"All  right." 

"You  say  you  are  the  Witch  of  Manhattan." 

"And  you  think  your  work  is  done." 

"Certainly;  I  have  found  my  game." 

"What  will  you  do9" 

"Arrest  you." 

"Oh,  you  will?" 


Til  :  ','/<•  V.  \.\IfATTAN.  63 

88.  M 

"That  is  contrary  lo  your  orders." 
..rain  greatly  amazed. 

"  It  ?,  my  orders?" 


"How?" 

"  You  were  only  to  locate  the  Witch  of  Manhattan,  not 

t,  her." 

The  detective  was  perplexed  and  very  thoughtful.  The 
singular  interview  had  assumed  a  very  strange  phase. 
He  recognized  the  fact  that  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  go 
very  slow. 

There  had  followed  a  moment's  silence  when  the  crea- 
ture asked: 

kk  Have  you  located  me?     Can  you  identify  me?" 

"I  think  I  can." 

"Then  you  can  go  and  get  your  reward,  and  it  will  be  a 
rich  one." 

Jack  fell  to  the  truth;  there  had  heon  a  double  espion- 
age. While  he  had  been  trailing  Mrs.  Thomas  and  her 
son  or  nephew  some  one  had  been  trailing  them  also  and 
he  ha<.?  been  included  in  the  trail.  It  was  evident  this  old 
witch  had  by  some  means  learned  the  conversations  that 
had  occurred  between  Mrs.  Thomas  and  himself,  or  it  was 
another  deal  on  the  part  of  the  old  woman  whom  our  ht:x 
was  now  convinced  had*  stolen  the  Radclitt'e  estate, 

Jack  was  not  disconcerted,  lie  was  down  to  a  case 
tiled  for  a  display  of  those  wonderful  qualities  that 
irned  for  him  his  complimentary  sobriquet. 

There  f"l!,iw:'d  a  moment's  silence.  The  detective  was 
:;ig  upon  his  plan  of  action  and  In  ined  by  a 

start!  ncnt  to  clear  up  one.  phase  of  the  mystery. 

ki  Y<»n  think  1  can  go  and  claim  my  reward?" 

"  STon  are  miitali 


64  TEE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"lam?" 

"Yes." 

"How?" 

"I  am  claiming  nothing  from  Mrs.  Thomas." 

"You  are  claiming  nothing  from  Mrs.  Thomas  r~ 
repeated  the  old  witch. 

"No." 

"How  is  that?" 

"I  am  oa  to  her  game." 

The  old  witch  had  been  cool,  but  when  our  hero  made 
the  statement  recorded  she  betrayed  great  agitation.  She 
forgot  to  chuckle. 

Again  there  followed  a  moment  of  silence  and  then  the 
old  witch  repeated: 

"You  are  on  to  her  game?" 

"I  am." 

"What  is  her  game?" 

"I  do  not  know  why  I  should  make  a  confidant  of  you." 

"You  can." 

"I  am  not  assured  as  to  your  identity." 

"I  am  the  Witch  of  Manhattan." 

"That  settles  it— you  are  the  robber." 

"  I  thought  you  were  on  to  their  game,"  came  the  star- 
tling suggestion. 

"lam." 

"You  are  sure?" 

"lam." 

•'Then  you  must  know  there  are  two  Witches  of  Man 
hattan." 

"Aha!  that  is  so,  eh?" 

"You  must  know  it." 

"I  must?" 

"Yes." 

"How?" 

"One  is  a  golden-haired  maiden.  I  am  not  a  golden* 
haired  maiden." 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  6& 

*  Let  me  ask  you  one  question." 

"Proceed." 

"  Do  you  love  the  Thomas  woman?" 

"  Why  do  you  ask?" 

"Answer." 

"No." 

"  Then  I  reveal  a  secret.     She  has  not  long  to  live." 

Suddenly  and  in  a  perfectly  natural  voice  the  old  witch 
exclaimed : 

"That  she-devil  ha^  lived  long  enough." 

The  detective  was  satisfied  the  old  witch  was  not  a 
decoy  in  a  new  scheme  of  the  Thomas  family. 

"So  you  think  she  has  lived  long  enough?" 

The  old  witch  remained  silent  and  the  detective  con- 
tinued: 

"So  you  think  there  are  two  Witches  of  Manhattan?"* 

"  Yes." 

"  You  are  Witch  number  one." 

"Well?" 

"Who  is  Witch  number  two?" 

"Ho  wean  I  tell?" 

The  detective  suddenly  changed  his  whole  manner  and 
he  said : 

"Come,  my  young  friend,  you  have  played  your  part 
well,  but  the  play  is  over.  Let's  come  down  to  business, 
real  business.  You  are  a  Radcliffe;  why  did  you  invite 
me  here?" 

The  old  witch  laughed  and  said: 

"How  funny!" 

"What  is  funny?" 

"You  call  me  a  Kadcliffe." 

"I  do,  and  I  propose  to  nnmask  you.  Yes,  7  have 
known  all  along  who  yon  are.  You  are  the  Nrniivis;  you 
are  the  natural  son  of  llniry  RaddiiTe.  You  have  a  game 
— what  is  it?  Do  not  attempt  to  fool  me  any  longer." 


6tf  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

The  old  witch  suddenly  leaped  to  her  feet  and  so  did  the 
detective.  The  latter  leaped  forward  and  grasped  the  pre- 
tended old  woman.  A  desperate  struggle  followed.  Jack 
had  the  battle  of  his  life  on  his  hands  as  far  as  personal 
strength  was  concerned,  but  the  old  witch  was  encumbered 
by  her  clothes.  Otherwise  it  might  have  been  a  question 
as  to  who  would  prove  conqueror.  Jack  had  the  advan- 
tage and  succeeded  ia  bearing  the  old  witch  to  the  floor, 
and  he  also  succeeded  in  clapping  on  her  the  "  darbies " 
and  she  was  at  his  mercy. 

"Well,"  said  the  detective,  "I  reckon  I  can  locate  you 
now." 

"I  am  at  your  mercy,"  said  the  old  witch. 

"Yes,  you  are  at  my  mercy." 

"  There  is  but  one  reason  why  I  took  this  chance. ); 

"  What  was  your  reason?" 

"I  know  you  to  be  a  man  of  honor." 

"I  do  not  think  you  have  made  a  mistake." 

"  I  propose  to  appeal  to  both  your  honor  and  your  mercy." 

u  You  can  do  so  safely. " 

"I  am  Anthony  Radcliffe." 

"Oh!  you  are  not  the  Witch  of  Manhattan?" 

>  You  have  not  been  deceived  at  any  time,  you  are  the 
victor?" 

"lam." 

"I  have  said  I  will  appeal  to  your  honor  and  mercy." 

"You  said  so." 

"Then  release  me." 

A  sudden  and  strange  impulse  led  the  detective  to  fall 
to  the  spirit  of  young  RadclinVs  proposition  and  he  imme- 
diately released  him  and  said : 

"Young  man,  I  am  your  friend,  you  can  trust  me.  I 
believe  you  have  been  wronged.  I  am  an  impartial  teetifier. 
I  have  obtained  facts  that  have  led  me  to  this  conclusion. 
Yon  can  trust  me — now  tell  me  the  whole  truth." 


'ilcil  OF  MANHATTAN.  67 


"Do  so." 

"  First  let  me  remove  my  disguise.     I  wish  you  to  behold 
my  real  face. 
"All  right." 

"1  will  return  in  a  few  minutes." 

Tho  disguised  party  moved  toward  a  door  opening  Jnto 
another  room,  when  the  detective  called: 

"I  kid!  can  I  trust  you?" 

"You  can." 

"I  will." 

A  moment  later  the  officer  was  alone,  and  in  giving  his 
confidence  and  trust  he  relied  entirely  upon  his  discern- 
ment and  good  judgment. 

Fully  half  an  hour  passed  and  there  entered  his  presence 
one  of  the  best-looking  youths  he  had  met  in  many  a  day. 

As  the  young  man  entered  the  room  he  said: 

"There  shall  be  no  more  concealments.  I  am  Anthony 
RadcliiTe." 

Jack  surveyed  the  youth  from  head  to  feet.  He  beheld 
a  youth  whose  features  were  wonderfully  like  those  in  the 
mysterious  portrait.  His  eyes  were  blue  but  his  hair  was 
dark  brown.  Jack  was  running  several  theories  through 
his  mind  and  after  an  interval  said  : 

"No,  there  must;  not  be  any  more  concealment.  There 
are  several  singular  incidents  in  this  affair,  several  mys- 
teries. I  reckon  you  can  open  thorn  all  up  and  explain 
everything." 

"How  much  do  you  know?"  asked  young  Kadcliffe. 

Jack  had  decided  upon  his  coum-  and  lie  proceeded  and 
told  all  the  facts  that,  led  to  hi.-  hrim-  •  iillrd  into  the  case. 
He  related  all  thai,  he  had  1<  .(1  all  that  he  suspected, 

iiul  then  demanded: 

"Now  tell  me  who  you  are?'* 

*!  am  Anthony  Radclifte." 


68  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"That  is  your  real  name?" 

"It  is." 

"And  you  have  a  right  to  the  name?" 

« I  have." 

-'  Who  was  your  father?" 

"  I  am  the  son  of  the  man  to  whose  heirs  the  < 
awarded  the  Radcliffe  estate." 

"You  are?" 

"lam." 

"And  who  was  your  mother?" 

"My  father's  legitimate  wife." 

"Then  you  are  the  real  heir?" 

"lam." 

The  detective  told  the  story  as  it  had  been  relat 
him  by  Mrs.  Thomas,  and  then  said : 

"Now  explain  how  much  of  her  story  is  true." 

"I  can  trust  you?" 

"Yes." 

"You  are  really  my  friend?" 

"lam." 

"I  will  tell  you  the  story.     Mrs.  Thomas  claims 
the  half-sister  of  my  late  father.     The  claim  is  false, 
is  personating  my  aunt — she  is  a  fraud.     My  father 
man  who,  because  of  an  injury,  became  mentally   ^ 
This  woman  secured  control  over  him  and  from  the  I 
ning  plotted    to  steal  the  estate.     When    I    was  a 
child  I  was  sent  away  and  placed  in  charge  of  a  w 
who  later   on   testified   that   she   was  my   mother, 
retained  control  of  my  sister." 

"  Where  is  your  sister  now?" 

"This  woman  claims  that  she  is  dead." 

"You  have  been  in  the  old  Radcliffe  house?" 

"I  have." 

"You  have  seen  the  portrait  of  the  fair  girl?" 

"I  have." 


/  TCH  OF  MANE  A  TTAN.  69 

"  Wlio  : 

••  I  ilo  not  know." 

:liat  a  portrait  of  your  sister?" 

"I  do  not  know.     I  have  not  seen  my  sister  since  she 
was  three  yours  old.      I   have  bnt  a  faint  recollection  of 
•lit  I  have  a  suspicion." 

'1  what  is  your  suspicion?" 
"  I  believe  that  is  a  portrait  of  my  mother." 

nor  trait  of  your  mother!''  ejaculated  the  detective. 

88." 

Our  hero  recalled  the  glimpse  he  had  had  of  the  woman 
in  white  who  resembled  the  portrait  and  who  had  been  so 
summarily  draped  away  the  night  he  was  on  watch  in  the 
old  house. 

%i  \Vhere  is  yonr  mother? 

"I  do  not  know." 

"Is  she  dead?" 

"  1  do  not  know.  They  claim  she  is  dead  as  they  claim 
that  my  sister  is  dead." 

"What  do  you  claim?" 

"I  have  reason  to  believe  that  my  sister  still  lives." 

"And  what  is  yonr  theory?" 

"They   won  the  verdict  in  the  court  against  my  uncle. 

That  part  of  the  story  as  told  by   Mrs.  Thomas  is  true. 

My   sister   became    the   heir.     Suddenly   my   sister   died. 

Proof  of   her  death   must  have  been  furnished — probably 

man u fact u red,  as  these  people  had  everythiM^  in  their  own 

—and    they    produced    a    will    wherein    this    Mrs. 

le  heir  of  the  property  as  nearest  of  kin." 

>w  what  do  you  Bi 

"I  have  indicated  I  bilicve  my  sister  still  lives  or  was 
murdered.  Ewaea  an  tin  the  court  through  c< 

and    t  ,  rd    that   I    was   an    illegitimate   son.     The 

woman  v,  ho  had  always  taken  core  of  i:  t<>  me  as 

her  child  ar.d  her  •  I  believed  she 

h." 


70  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"How  did  you  learn  to  the  contrary?" 
"The  woman  repented  and  told  me  the  whole  truth,  and 
told  me  she  believed  my  mother  still  lived  and  also  my 
sister." 

"How  long  ago  did  this  confession  take  place?" 
"About  six  months  ago." 
"Did  the  woman  furnish  you  proofs?" 
"No." 

"How  is  that?" 

"She  was  about  to  confess  her  perjury.     She  threatened 
to  do  so  unless  these  people  did  me  justice." 
"And  why  has  she  not  kept  her  word?" 
"She  has  mysteriously  disappeared." 
"Murdered?" 

"I  fear  she  has  been  murdered." 
"You  have  been  haunting  these  people?" 
"I  have." 

"Did  you  ever  steal  anything  from  them?" 
"No." 

k<  What  has  been  your  purpose?" 

"I  have  been 'piping'  them,  lioping  to  learn  that  my 
tnothe?  still  lived,  that  my  sister  still  lived;  and  also  hop- 
ing to  obtain  evidence  against  them." 

"How  is  it  they  did  not  put  you  out  of  the  way?" 
"I  have  been  too  smart  for  them.     They  have  tried  to 
murder  me  or  capture  me,  but  I  have  evaded  them." 
"How  about  the  Witch  of  Manhattan  number  two?" 
"She  is  one  of  their  confederates.     They  are  arranging 
evidence  and  proof  so  as  to  identify  me  with  the  thief  and 
thus  put  me  out  of  the  way.     If  they  could  once  capture 
me  they  would  have  abundance  of  proof  of  my  guilt.     They 
are   great   people   for   furnishing   false   testimony.     That 
Thomas  woman  is  a  really  wonderful  woman." 
**How  did  you  learn  about  me?" 
"I  have  been  secreted  in  that  house  and  I  have  listened 


71 

to   cot,  and    the   Thomas    woman. 

:  iurcd  that  you  w< 

i!i:ill.        I    lll'l:  '[lie  Of 

•wrongdoing,    and    I   deti  rained  to  meet  you   and   throw 
on    your    mercy.       Heretofore    I    have   worked 

M  Von  met  11113  one  night  when  yon  were  disguised  a»  a 
woman.'' 

"I  did." 

.d  those  robberies  are  all  *  fakes'?" 

"They  are." 

"Only  intended  to  manufacture  evidence  wherewith  they 
can  put  you  out  of  the  way?" 

u  Ves." 

"  Who  is  the  Witch  of  Manhattan?" 

"  I  do  not  knov. 

"Have  you  any  suspicion?*1 

"No;   I  have  tried  to  run  her  down  but  failed." 

"  How  is  it  you  called  her  the  Witch  of  Manhattan?" 

'•'1  .-  Jit  at.  an  interview  between  yon  aud  Theo- 

dore lV::!e  :-.nd   learned  you   had  dubbed   the  mysterious 
ui  the  Witch  of  Manhattan." 

laim  the  Witch  has  robbed  other  people." 
-uler  the  guidance  of  I  Vale  and  with  his  conniv- 
ance slu-  has  done  so,  or  rather  appeared  to  have  done  so, 
In  my  opinion  lie  was  the  thief.      All   was  contrived,     H« 
ingenious  man — an  areh-e. inspirator." 

"And  you  believe  \«'ur  mother  II. 

"  1  do." 

"  And  your 

"Tes.'r 

"And  you  have  outKned  their  whole  schemer* 

M  f   l:a    • 

her." 

es." 


7%  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"If  your  mother  lives  we  may  find  her  also," 

"Yes." 

-  "  How  have  they  succeeded  in  making  it  appear  that 
your  mother  is  dead?" 

"I  believe  that  in  the  case  of  both  my  sister  and  mothei 
substitutions  have  been  made,  while  my  mother  and  siatei 
have  been  held  secret  captives." 

"This  has  been  an  extraordinary  game  in  case  it  is 
proved  that  yonr  suspicions  are  correct." 

"Yes,  sir,  but  with  your  great  knowledge  of  the  world 
you  can  readily  see  how  under  all  the  circumstances  the 
game  could  be  played.  I  was  but  a  child,  my  sister  also; 
and  my  mother  a  poor,  weak,  heartbroken  woman.  So 
you  see  it  only  re^nii'^d  boldness,  more  than  cunning,  to 
carry  out  their  scheme." 

"You  are  right,  youn%o:  man;  yes,  you  are  right.  And 
now  how  are  we  to  beat  their  game?" 

"In  the  first  place  we  must  find  my  old  nurse,  the 
woman  who  swore  to  being  my  mother." 

"  You  think  she  is  alive?" 

"Yes." 

"What  makes  you  think  so?" 

"  Simply  because  they  have  not  sought  to  establish  her 
death  as  they  did  the  death  of  my  father,  my  mother  and 
my  sister." 

"Do  you  think  it  possible  your  father  lives?" 

"I  believe  he  is  really  dead,  but  it  is  possible  that  he 
lives." 

"You  firmly  believe  your  old  nurse,  the  woman  who 
swore  falsely,  lives?" 

<<I  do." 

"What  is  her  name?" 

"Susan  Werner." 

"If  we  find  her  she  can  furnish  proofs? 

"She  will  confess  that  her  former  testimony  was  false 


THK  Wl'JVU  OF  73 

A.nd  then  again  if  we  find  my  sister  and  rny  mother  she 
will  know  of  facts  that  will  aid  us  in  identifying  them 
both." 

"They  admitted  in  court  that  you  were  really  a  icn  of 
the  maker  of  the  will?" 

"Yes." 

"They  claimed,  however,  that  you  were  not  his  legiti* 
mate,  sou?" 

"  Yes." 

"  If  we  prove  your  legitimacy  you  become  the  heir?  " 

"Yes." 

"And  your  sister's  will  is  null  and  void?" 

«  Yes." 

The  detective  meditated  a  moment  and  then  said: 

"If  we  secure  possession  of  Susan  Werner  we  have  got 
'em,  anyhow." 

>k  We  have." 

"If  that  woman  lives  we  will  find  her,  I  will  promise 
you  that  much,  young  man.  And  now  we  will  work 
together." 

"Then  you  accept  my  story?" 

"I  do." 

"You  believe  I  am  the  real  heir?" 

"I  do;  and  if  you  act  under  my  advice  we  will  establish 
all  the  facts.  The  first  thing  for  us  to  do  is  to  find  Susan 
Werner." 

"No." 

"  What  would  you  propose?" 

"If  my  mother  and  sister  are  alive  they  are  in  the  j. 
of  these  people/' 
uat  is  tn, 

MVe  mii£l  find  them  first." 

i   think    that  your  mother,   if  alive,  knows  of 
your  existen. 

%ti  believe  she  thinks  me  dead." 


74  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"And  your  sister?" 

"She  probably  knows  nothing  about  me." 

"And  the  Witch  of  Manhattan?  You  have  some  i'let 
as  to  her  identity." 

"I  have  not." 

"  This  is  your  home?" 

"At  present,  yes." 

"You  live  here  alone?" 

"I  do." 

"Under  what  guise?" 

"As  an  old  woman." 

"  You  must  have  worked  your  disguise  well  to  escape 
detection." 

"I  have,  but  I  have  another  home.     This  is  jny  refuge." 

"Who  supplies  you  with  money?" 

"  A  lawyer  who  will  bring  my  case  in  court  when  I  secure 
the  evidence." 

"  Your  case  will  never  come  in  court." 

"Necessarily  so." 

"No,  I  will  wind  these  people  up  so  that  in  order  to 
unwind  they  will  be  compelled  to  confess  all  and  make  full 
restitution.  And  now  one  word — I  am  to  undertake  your 
case?" 

"If  you  are  willing." 

"lam." 

"Then  I  know  I  shall  recover  my  own." 

"  In  order  to  do  so  you  must  follow  my  directions  to  the 
letter." 

"I  will." 

"Then  you  must  remain  right  here  as  the  old  woman 
until  you  hear  from  me.  I  have  a  test  to  make.  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  .your  mother  really  lives." 

"You  have  reason  to  believe  so?" 

"Yes." 

"Will  you  tell  me  on  what  you  found  your  suspicion ?" 


TUK  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  75 

Thts  deteeth  !  venture  in   the  old  house, 

telling  how  he  saw  the  seeming  apparition  who  so  greatly 
resembled  the  portrait.  The  young  man  displayed  con- 
siderable agitation  and  exclaimed: 

"Indued,  you  beheld  my  mother." 

"I  will  know  within  twenty-four  hours." 

GUI  hero  held  an  extended  talk  with  the  young  man 
and  then  departed  in  the  carriage  which  had  been  placed 
At  his  service.  On  his  way  back  to  his  lodgings  he  thought 
the  whole  affair  over  in  his  mind  and  fully  realized  the 
desperate  chances  that  were  to  be  taken.  He  recognized 
that  the  conspirators  had  so  successfully  entrenched  them- 
selves behind  the  law  that  his  moves  must  be  independent 
of  the  law,  and  he  fully  appreciated  the  cunning  and  skill 
of  the  people  against  whom  he  was  pitted,  and  could  see 
that  in  an  emergency  they  were  capable  of  the  moat  des- 
perate deeds. 

Jack  reached  his  home  and  on  the  morning  following 
his  remarkable  adventure  he  sallied  forth,  determined  to 
make  a  bold  move. 

Later  in  the  day  he  received  a  note  from  Mrs.  Thomas, 
lie  called  upon  that  lady,  who  informed  him  that  she  had 
no  more  use  for  his  services.  Jack  accepted  his  dismissal 
quietly  and  without  protest,  and  this  caused  the  woman  to 
turn  pale.  She  had  expected  and  even  hoped  that  he 
would  protest  or  at  least  ask  an  explanation,  and  she 
accepted  his  ready  acquiescence  to  his  dismissal  as  very 
ominous;  for  after  the  departure  of  the  detective  she  wa* 
d  by  her  sou  and  to  him  she  said : 

"  1  have  followed  your  advice." 

"  You  have  done  well." 

"  You  think  so?" 
lo." 

"On  the  contrary  that  man  is  now  free  to  turn  all  his 
efforts  against  us." 


-78  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"He  was  working  against  us  anyhow.  He  was  om  foe 
from  the  beginning.  Now  we  can  treat  him  as  a  foe." 

"He  is  a  very  brave  and  intelligent  man." 

"  One  fact  is  assured — he  suspects  us  and  has  been  on 

cur  track.  He  will  make  us  trouble  unless "  The  juar 

stopped  short  and  Mrs.  Thomas  urged: 

"Proceed." 

"  You  can  guess." 

"  Unless  he  is  out  of  the  way?" 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  let  him  look  to  himself.  His  days  are  numbered 
now  that  I  know  he  is  our  foe.  We  have  gone  too  far  now 
to  let  one  life  stand  in  our  way." 

There  was  a  malignant  gleam  in  the  woman's  eyes  as  she 
spoke. 

"We  must  not  strike  unless  we  are  sure." 

"You  need  have  no  fear.  I  have  a  man  in  my  employ 
who  needs  only  one  word  from  me  and  the  deed  is  done." 

A  little  later  mother  and  son  separated  and  so  matters 
rested  until  midnight.  Theodore  Peale  had  warned  his 
mother  against  one  possibility  and  she  had  assured  him 
that  she  would  guard  against  it. 

It  was  two  hours  after  midnight  when  through  the  dark- 
ness in  the  great  parlor  of  the  Eadoliffe  mansion  there  shot 
a  ray  of  light.  Iu  the  center  of  the  floor  stood  a  masked 
figure  and  in  the  latter's  hand  was  a  masked  lantern,  the 
mask  of  which  he  had  just  slid  from  before  the  bright  little 
spark  of  light,  and  he  sent  the  glimmering  streak  from 
point  to  point  around  the  great  room. 

The  singular  figure  presented  a  strange  appearance.  As 
intimated,  he  wore  a  mask  upon  his  face,  a  loose  gown-like 
robe  enveloped  his  whole  person  and  on  his  feet  he  wore  a 
pair  of  regular  Indian  moccasins,  and  a  strange  and  weird 
sight  would  have  met  the  eyes  of  one  who  suddenly  might 
behold  him  as  there  he  stood,  his  body  motionless  save 


TH  I  OP  MANHATTAN.  77 

as  his  arms  slowly  moved  as  ho  changed  the  direction  of 
tlie  sharp  ray  of  light. 

Fully  thiv.-  minutes  parsed  and  under  the  circumsL. 
three  minutes  were  quite  a  spell  of  time.     Finally  the  n 
closed  the  mask  of  his  lantern  and  moved  slowi 
lessly  toward  the  door  opening  into  the  hall.     On< 
hall  he  stopped  arid  again  the  sharp  ray  of  light  passed 
mur  the  various  recesses. 

It  was  a  fact  worthy  of  ohservation  that  the  man  kept 
one  hand  close  to  his  side,  and  a  close  and  shrewd  observer 

I  hi  have  discovered  that  while  he  moved  his  arm  and 
kept  the  ray  of  light  glancing  around  from  object  to  object 
his  head  was  turned  a  little  to  one  side,  and  he  was  really 

'•ring  the  space  in  his  rear  with  covert  glances.  Thus 
the  seeming  pantomime  proceeded,  for  it  was  all  movement 
and  gesture,  not  a  murmur  escaping  the  strangely  acting 
man's  lips.  At  length  he  moved  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs 

ling  to  the  upper  hall.  Here  he  again  closed  the  mask 
o\er  his  light  and  stood  still,  and  then  a  most  startling 
incident  occurred.  A  second  figure  suddenly  rose  up  and 
immediately  there  followed,  a  struggle — a  desperate  noise- 
less struggle  in  the  dark.  The  combat  was  a  brief  one, 
for  one  of  the  contestants  was  borne  to  the  heavily  carpeted 
floor  and  then  under  a  Ihish  from  the  mask  lantern,  iti 
slide  once  more  removed,  a  very  exciting  tableau 
exposed.  One  man  lay  stretched  upon  the  broad  of  his 
Back,  a  little  way  off  on  the  floor  lay  a  stiletto  which  . 

lently  been  knocked  from  the  prost.ru;  !,\ 

ligiirii  in   the  long  robe,  who  held  him  pinm>d 
to  the  floor.     The  masked  figure  after  throwing   his   ; 

of  light  around   in   several  direeiions  finally   ll 
full  in  the  \  niu:i\s  face  and  then  t  in 

a  very  low  tone. 

"Utter  one  outcry >"  s»iM   i: 
you  die." 


73  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

The  prostrate  man  made  no  answer  and  the  victor  again 
said : 

"Your  intentions  were  good  but  I  was  on  to  yonr  move. 
You  would  have  received  a  big  price  if  you  had  succeeded 
in  plunging  that  ugly  knife  into  me." 

"I  was  justified,"  said  the  prostrate  man. 

"Speak  low,  very  low."earne  the  warning.  "Raise you; 
voice  and  you  die." 

"I  will  speak  low." 

"Kemember  that  I  hold  your  life  in  my  hands,  and  now 
mark  me,  I  want  you  to  go  with  me  into  the  parlor.  '  Auj 
attempt  to  raise  an  alarm  will  prove  your  death  knell." 

"I  know  my  peril." 

"You  do?" 

"I  do." 

"You  say  you  were  justified/' 

"I  said  so." 

"  What  was  your  justification." 

"I  believed  yon  to  be  a  burglar." 

This  last  remark,  as  our  readers  will  observe,  indicated 
a  recognition;  and  indeed  there  had  followed  a  recognition, 
for  the  masked  man  as  he  bore  his  victim  to  the  floor  had 
spoken  a.  name,  and  the  latter  had  either  recognized  a  voice 
or  was  governed  by  a  conclusion  when  he  appeared  to 
assume  that  the  victor  was  not  a  common  burglar. 

The  detective  permitted  his  man  to  rise  and  led  him  intti 
the  parlor,  and  ha  said: 

"  Goetf'e,  I  did  not  expect  to  meet  you  again." 

The  man  remained  silent. 

"  I  see  you  are  up  to  your  old  tricks." 

"I  am  seeking  to  earn  an  honest  living." 

"You  are?" 

«Iam." 

"By  murder?" 

"No." 


ijr.  79 

"Yon  intended  to  murder  mo." 

•'I  was  employed  in  iliiri  house  as  a  private  watchman. 
The  house  h.t  -'ibed  rfevc.ral  times." 

The  detective  laughed'in  a  quiet  way  and  .said: 

"That  will  do  for  yon  to  tell,  but  it  don't  work  with 
no." 

"I  did  not  know  you  had  any  interest  in  thia  house." 

*  You  did  not?" 
"I  did  not." 

"And  you  say  you  wish  to  earn  an  honest  living?" 

"I  do." 

"I  will,  give  you  a  chance  to  earn  an  honeat  dollar  and 
then " 

The  detective  stopped  short. 

"Go  on,  sir." 

"  Yon  will  leave  the  country,  or  go  to  jail,  that's  all." 

"I  will  be  glad  to  earn  an  honest  dollar." 

"All  right,  i  will  talk  with  you  later  on.  In  the  mean- 
time I  will  let  you  remain  here  until  my  business  is  con* 
«lnded.  I  will  make  sure  of  your  remaining,  however." 

"You  can  trust  me." 

"lean?" 

"Yon  can." 

"I  will  not,  all  the  same;  but  yon  can  answer  me  one 
question." 

"Proceed." 

us  I  h<  woman  who  is  mistress  of  this  house?" 
e  is  not  here  to-night." 

*  She  is  not  hen  I,?" 
"No." 

"  Where  is  she?" 

"She  went  away,  fearing  I  might  have  ail  encounter 
with  a  burglar." 

Again  the  detective  laughed  ;md  said: 

"All  right,  stick  to  you;  <>u  tell  me  the 

truth?" 


80  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN, 


"She  is  not  really  here  in  the  house?" 

"She  is  not." 

"Who  is  in  the  house?" 

"Only  one  servant  and  myself." 

"  Where  is  this  servant?" 

"In  her  room,  I  reckon." 

"  She  knows  of  yonr  presence  in  this  house  f* 

"She  does." 

"What  are  her  orders?" 

"  To  keep  her  room  unless  there  is  an  alarm  of 

"And  where  is  her  room?" 

The  man  located  the  room. 

"  There  is  no  one  else  in  the  house?" 

"No  one  but  yourself." 

"  You  know  the  risk  of  deceiving  me." 

"  That  is  why  I  am  telling  you  the  truth." 

"And  you  are  telling  me  the  truth?" 

"lam." 

The  detective  proceeded  and  in  a  manner  peculiarly  his 
own  bound  the  man  hands  and  feet,  bound  him  so  he  could 
neither  move  nor  speak,  and  as  he  concluded  the  detective 
said: 

"I  reckon  I  can  depend  upon  your  awaiting  my  return." 

The  man  did  not  answer,  he  was  securely  gagged. 

Jack  left  the  room.  He  proceeded  direct  to  the  room 
where  the  man  Goeffe  had  said  the  one  servant  awaited  an 
alarm  of  fire.  Jack  listened  a  moment  at  the  door.  He 
heard  some  one  moving  inside  and  after  an  interval  he 
rapped.  The  door  was  opened  a  little  way,  a  head  was 
protruded  and  the  demand  followed: 

"Is  there  anything  you  want?" 

"Yes,"  said  Jack. 

"Will  you  come  in?" 

Jack  entered  the  room. 


THE  WITCH  OF  81 

The  woman  appeared  to  be  acting  on  an  assumption. 
She  did  not  look  at  the  detective,  but  as  she  stepped  across 
the  room  she  asked: 

"Well,  what  do  you  want?" 

"I  want  you,"  said  the  detective. 

Th',»  room  was  fairly  well  lighted  and  as  the  detective 
-'p:»ke  the  woman  turned  with  a  look  of  surprise  and  alarm 
on  her  face,  and  asked : 

"Who  are  you?     What  do  you  want  hen 

"I  told  you  what  I  wanted — I  want  you." 

The  woman  glared  a  moment  and  then  like  an  enraged 
tigress  sprang  upon  the  officer.  A  really  desperate  str 
followed.  Jack  appeared  to  he  in  for  desperate  struggles, 
and  he  had  a  tough  time  of  it  ere  he  subdued  the  woman, 
who  bit  and  scratched  like  a  wild  cat.  The  detective,  how- 
ever, succeeded  in  subduing  her,  and,  not  wishing  to  indi- 
cate his  identity,  he  bound  her  with  stout  cords  which  he 
had  brought  with  him  to  use  in  an  emergency. 

The  woman  fought  all  the  time,  but  our  hero  succeeded 
in  binding  her  and  then  he  set  her  in  a  chair  and  for  a 
moment  or  two  studied  her  face.  The  woman  was  able 
to  talk  and  finding  herself  powerless  she  used  her  tongue. 

"Why  am  I  treated  iu  this  manner?"  she  demanded. 

"You  will  learn  later  on." 

"What  do  you  intend  to  do  with  me'r" 

"Are  you  anxious  to  know?" 

"I  will  know." 

"  Yes,  I  will  give  you  an  idea." 

The  detective  romnn  ii^ed  to  form  a  noose.  Th0 
woman's  face  as.-umo.l  an  ;:c. 

"Do  you  intend  to  murder  t;!  Vmamled,  in  tonei 

of  wildest  alarm. 

•'  1  do,  I  inea'i  ! 

The  woman  nnde    ;•    pi"iji,:i  wirh    her   lii  :  ongh 

about  to  scream,  1  Id   her  speechless  and  hoi 

effort  to  scream  was  o  il'ul  pan  torn  imo. 


88  THUS  W1TOH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

Deliberately  Jack  formed  i;he  nouse  and  the  woman  la 
a  husky  voice  managed  to  ask: 

"What  can  I  do  to  save  my  life?" 

"Oh,  you  do  not  wish  to  die?" 

"I  cannot -lie." 

"And  you  are  willing  to  save  yoar  life?" 

"I  will  do  anything  to  save  my  life." 

"You  can  do  so." 

•'How?" 

"Confess." 

"I  have  nothing  to  confess.  I  have  done  no  wrong  to 
any  one." 

"How  dare  you  tell  me  that?" 

"It  is  the  truth." 

"All  right,  I  will  accept  it  as  the  truth.  If  yon  have 
nothing  to  confess  so  much  the  worse  for  you.  Yes, 
madam,  you  are  doomed." 

The  woman's  terror  increased.  She  looked  like  one  with 
the  noose  already  about  her  neck. 

"Spare  me,"  she  pleaded. 

"Only  on  condition  that  you  confess." 

"I  have  nothing  to  confess." 

"How  long  have  you  been  in  the  enijj-uv  of  Mrs. 
Thomas?" 

The  woman  was  silent. 

"Your  silence  is  a  confession." 

"Then  spare  me." 

"Only  on  condition  that  you  answer  all  my  questions.'' 

"I  have  been  in  the  employ  of  Mrs.  Thomas  for  fiv.-i 
years." 

"Then  you  know  all  her  secrets." 

•*No,  she  never  trusted  me." 

"It's  a  pity  you  have  no  information  to  give  me,  and 
must  die." 

The  woman  writhed  in  torture  and  murmured: 


THE  wircn  OF  .v.i  A  ir.i  TTAN<  83 


"Has  it  come  to 

k>  Yes,  it  has  come  to  this." 

"  You  will  murder  me  for  the  sins  of  another?" 

"No,  for  your  own  sins.      And  now,  madam,  we  will 
get  right  down  to  business,  as  it  is  said.     Will  you  co 
and  live,  or  refuse  and  die;?     I    have  no  time  to  waste. 
I  must,  In-  moving.     If  I  stiangle  you  it  will  be  the  tenth 
death  I  am  responsible  for  to-night." 

Our  hero's  words  sounded  terrible,  but  the  bloody  mur- 
ders he  claimed  to  have  committed  are  easily  explained  — 
his  victims  were  mosquitoes.  The  woman,  however,  was 
in  such  an  excited  condition  she  appeared  to  accept  his 
declaration  as  real,  and  her  face  became  blue  with  terror. 

"  What  can  I  tell  you?"  she  asked. 

"  You  are  custodian  of  a  female  prisoner  in  this  house?" 

"No,  no!"  almost  screamed  the  woman. 

The  detective  tested  his  noose,  when  the  woman  fell  ovei 
in  a  dead  faint. 

"There  she  goes!"  ejaculated  the  detective,  and  he  set 
to  work  to  bring  her  around.  As  she  revived  he  pre- 
tended to  withdraw  the  noose  from  around  her  neck. 

"Oh,  mercy!"  she  pleaded. 

"  Will  you  confess?" 

"I  will." 

*  Where  is  Susan  Werner  ?" 

"I  do  not  know." 

"Is  she  living?" 

MI  do  not  know." 

"  What  do  you  suspect?" 

ue  was  alive  three  weeks  ago." 

u  Where  is  the  girl  Louise  Radcliffe?" 

"Oh,  spare  me!''  pleaded  the  woin.in. 

"Answer  my  question  or  the  next  time  you  will  complete 
the  journey." 

Tho  woman  appeared  to  fully  comprehend  his  ghastly 
allusion  and  in  trembling  tones  she  answered: 


64  TEE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAN. 

"I  fear  she  is  dead." 

"You  are  not  certain?" 

"lam  not." 

"  When  did  yon  last  know  of  her  being  alive  ?w 

"Who  are  you?" 

"Answer  me — that  is  my  name  for  the  present." 

"I  know  she  was  alive  three  months  ago  but  neither  ol 
the  persons  named  are  in  my  custody." 

"I know  that  the  party  in  your  custody  is  Mrs.  Kadcliffe,* 

"I  feared  this,"  moaned  the  woman;  "yes.  I  feared  that 
some  day  my  sins  would  find  me  out." 

"Yes,  madam,  sins  always  find  out  those  who  commit 
them,  and  sooner  or  later  retribution  overtakes  the  sinner; 
but  answer  me." 

"  What  will  become  of  me?" 

"You  die  unless  you  answer  me." 

"And  I  will  be  murdered  if  I  do." 

"No,  you  shall  be  protected." 

"I  do  not  care  to  be  protected.  Give  me  my  freedom  and 
I  will  protect  myself." 

"  What  will  you  do?" 

'Flee  away  to  my  own  country." 

"  Reveal  all  you  know  to  me  and  you  shall  have  a  chance 
to  flee  away." 

"I  know  but  little." 

"Tell  me  all  you  do  know." 

if  There  is  a  lady  under  my  care.** 

"In  this  house?" 

"Yes;  I  have  always  treated  her  well  and  I  ha?e 
tested  her  many  times." 

"Who  is  the  lady?" 

"She  claims  to  be  Mrs.  Radcliffe." 

"She  resembles  the  portrait  in  the  parlor?** 

"Yes." 

"She  is  in  this  house?" 


:. \JJAT7  85 

«Y 

Vill  you  ! 

will  cof?          •       life  if  I  do." 
"It  will  cost  YOU  your  life  if  you  do  not." 
"If  I  do  will  yon  let  me  escape?" 
"I  will." 

UI  am  innocent  of  any  crime  save  that  of  gnilty  knowl- 

I  have  only    been  the  nurse  and  custodian  of  that 

"oinau.      I  love  her  and  why  I   have  been  so  false  to 

not  tell." 
"  You  can  atone  for  all  now.     Lead  me  into  her  presence." 

-  I  and  prepare  her  to  receive  you." 

10,  madam,  you  must  load  me  to  her." 
"You  di 
"I  do."    . 

The  detective  as  he  spoke  held  aloft  the  threatening 
noose. 

'mil  escape?" 

-  Yes." 
-When?" 

"  tm mediately,  if  yon  so  desire." 
••  Release  im-  and  I  will  lead  you  to  the  poor  lady." 
Tiie  detective   only   partially   released    the   woman,  and 
while  doing  so  his  heart   was  bounding  with  delight  and 
sntisfar.iion,  for  he  was  into  the  very  heart  of  the  mystery 
and  would  .-non  hiive  the  arch-conspirators  at  his  mercy. 


CllAl'TKli    IV. 

B    knew    that  the  moment   he   seen  rod  ;«>n   of 

any  01  .    .  .     .          <",ni:;in^    ii  -  would 

send    .  ,tion    into   tl.  lii-vod  he 

would  within   ;  noint  in  the  game. 

I  do 


86  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

not  trust  yon.  I  am  watching  you  and  any  attempted 
tricks  on  yonr  part  will  prove  fatal  to  you." 

"I  will  attempt  no  tricks.  I  am  glad  to  make  what 
reparation  I  can.  1  have  been  blind;  it  is  a  delight  to  me 
to  place  that  dear,  beautiful  woman  in  the  hands  of  those 
who  will  protect  her.  But  I  tell  you  one  thing — you  must 
be  prepared." 

"Prepared?" 

"Yes." 

"Against  what?" 

"She  is  guarded  by  a  man  who  is  one  of  the  most  des- 
perate scoundrels  on  the  face  of  the  earth  to-day." 

"I  will  take  care  of  him." 

"You  are,  sir,  I  believe,  a  detective." 

"Well?" 

"If  so  you  are  accustomed  to  combats." 

"lam." 

"Let  me  explain.  Mrs.  Radcliffe  is  confined  Vi  a  >oom 
on  the  top  floor  of  this  house.  The  room  is  bi.il t  hi  the 
very  center.  It  is  padded  and  thick- walled  so  as  to  pre- 
vent any  sound  going  forth.  Indeed  it  is  a  wonder  ;;i  its 
construction,  as  all  sounds  go  through  a  prepares  construc- 
tion to  a  chimney  which  carries  the  sound  up.  in  the  air 
through  a  high  chimney,  and  one  could  scream  u,  1  ?cream 
in  that  room  and  never  be  heard." 

"You  say  the  room  is  guarded?" 

"Yes,  a  man  is  there  night  and  day,  only  rev  sved  by 
me  a  few  hours  in  the  day." 

"And  is  he  armed?" 

"He  is,  to  the  teeth;  and  he  is  always  on  hi*  g«»ard. 
He  is  a  very  powerful  mau,  and  as  1  said  a  desperate  ieilow 
who  will  fight  to  the  death." 

"He  will  get  all  the  fight  he  wants," 

"I  will  tell  you  all.* 

"Do." 


i#  87 

11  without  one  word  of  inquiry  any 

strain  appiar  on  that  il'.or,  so  you  will  ha\(-  to 

I-   dii   your  «juard.     Of  course   1   cannot  accompany  you 

The   woman  >  a  halt  at  the  foot  of  an  enclosed 

stairway. 

"Do  you  mean  to  trick  me?* 

"I  do  not." 

k'  You  can  never  hide  from  me  if  you  do.     Better  havo 
mnity  of  these  people  than  mine." 
..m  seeking  to  make  peace  with  my  own  conscience. 
It  is  v   for  me  that  you   should  prevail  over  this 

man.     if  yon  tail  1  am  at  the  mercy  of  desperate  people 
\vhu  will  become  my  foes." 

*•  \Vhut  would  -,011  advise  me  to  do — shoot  the  man  down 

i,  he  of  ton  tileeps.     i  I'-  fears  no  danger  as  a  rule. 
You  :i  him." 

"T ru. -i.  mo,  I  will;  and  where  will  I  find  you?M 
"  1  will  a\vait  you    here.      If  you  win  I  go  with  yon,  if 
you  fail  1  will  ike  a\v;;y  at  once — lieu  to  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth." 

4k  You  will  have  no  •  to  llee." 

•d  for  an  encounter  and  the  weapon 

,,is  billy,     lie  had   a   regular   police 

dub,  and   as  our  ivudi-r.*  all    know,  in  the  hands  of 

how  to  u«e  it  in  a  close  encounter  it,  id  the 

Jaek  op-  >!<K»-  and   slowly   ancended   the  I 

II  •   had    i  lantern  ready,  and    hi.s  club,  and  slowly 

-•d  until  i  1  with  tlie  t! 

it,  for   thr   Btaif   (ip« ned    right   into   the 
<l  chanih  il  i:i  all  old-fashioned  hou.--. 

lit  hurn- 
..Li'.tl  well- 


g$  THE  WITCH  0*'  MANHATTAN. 

guarded  and  padded  room  of  which  the  woman  had  spokent 
and  thus  far  her  statements  were  confirmed. 

A  moment  the  detective  glanced  around,  then  ascended 
the  remaining  steps  and  as  he  did  so  a  man  suddenly  rose 
up  and  confronted  him,  as  though  he  had  actually  slid 
down  from  mid-air. 

Jack  was  hardened  to  surprises  or  he  might  have 
momentarily  lost  his  head,  and  an  instant's  consternation 
would  have  proved  fatal,  for  the  man  held  a  club  in  his 
hand  and  was  prepared  to  strike.  Indeed  his  silent  weapon 
was  twice  the  length  and  heft  of  the  billy  carried  by  our 
hero,  and  even  while  Jack  was  taking  in  the  above  facts 
at  a  glance  the  man  swung  his  club  in  the  air  and  made  a 
vicious  blow  at  the  detective.  The  latter  managed  to 
spring  aside  and  it  required  a  good  eye,  nerve  and  agility 
to  do  so,  as  the  fellow  having  missed  one  blow  followed  up 
the  attack,  and  for  several  seconds  all  the  detective  could 
do  was  dodge,  And  he  did  prove  an  artful  dodger,  for 
the  man  exclaimed  with  an  oath: 

"I'll  get  you  yet,  you  infernal  thief." 

"Hold  on,  old  man,"  answered  Jack,  "I  am  not  a  thief. 
You  are  going  on  too  fast." 

"I  am,  eh?     Well,  here  goes  for  a  settler." 

The  man  had  thrown  aside  his  club  and  had  drawn  a 
pistol  which  he  cocked  and  presented,  but  ere  he  could  fire 
the  weapon  was  knocked  from  his  hand. 

In  discarding  the  club  the  fellow, made  a  mistake,  but 
he  did  not  know  that  our  hero  was  armed  with  a  "billy" 
or  he  might  have  held  on.  As  stated,  Jack  knocked  the 
weapon  from  the  man's  hand  just  as  he  was  about  to  fire, 
and  as  the  little  gun  rattled  to  one  side  on  the  floor  Jack 
followed  up  his  advantage  by  dealing  the  fellow  a  rap  on 
the  head  which  brought  him  to  his  knees.  He  was  not 
conquered,  however,  for  he  drew  a  long  knife,  recovered 
his  feet  and  made  a  rush,  and  with  au  ordinary  person  he 


Til  89 

would  h  • '1  in  his  assault,  but  he  was  not 

dealing  with  an  ordinary  person.  On  the  contrary  he  was 

>iling  one  of  the  coolest  and  most  nervy  men  on  the 
force,  and  the  detective'  well  maintained  his  reputation, 
for  lie  played  around  his  assailant  like  an  acrobat,  and  his 
elub  moved  with  the  rapidity  almost  of  a  scintillation  of 
light.  Watching  his  opportunity  he  landed  a  terrific  blow 
on  his  assailant's  head — a  blow  which  caused  the  fellow  to 
veil  and  fall  to  the  floor — and  quicker  than  the  movements 
of  a  frightened  mouse  Jack  was  upon  him  and  as  quickly 
clapped  the  darbies  on  him,  and  then  he  coolly  exclaimed 
in  imitation  of  a  blast  man: 

"It's  all  over." 

Indeed  it  was  all  over  as  far  as  the  combat  was  con- 
cerned. The  man  lay  with  a  battered  head  and  helpless 
v,  ith  the  k' darbies"  on  him,  and  lie  was  sullen  indeed. 

*v  My  friend,"  said  the  detective,  "I  reckon  you've  lost 
a  job." 

" Curse  you,"  said  tho  man,  "if  I  had  been  prepared  for 
you  [  reckon  you  would  never  have  gotten  away  with  me." 

"  IJut  [  have,  all  the  same,  and  no\v  how  is  your 
prisoner?" 

"  I  have  no  prisoner. 

"Dou't  tell  that  tome.  Come,  coine,  where  are  yomr 
keys?" 

"I  have  no  keys." 

"Oh,  you  haven't?" 

"No." 

The  detective  looked  the  man  over  thoroughly.  He  had 
drawn  his  mask  km  tern  and  flashed  the  light  full  in  the 
fellow's  face  and  after  a  little  asked: 

"  What  do  you  know?" 

>k  1  don't  know  anything  beyond  the  fact  that  yeu  have 
got  the  best  of  inc." 

"It's  bud  for  you,  old  man,  if  you  do  not  know  any- 
thing." 


90  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"  What  do  you  expect  me  to  know?" 

"  I  expect  you  to  be  able  to  tell  me  a  heap.  If  you  can't 
I'm  sorry  for  you,  that's  all." 

Jack  had  made  great  progress.  He  had  one  prisoner 
down  in  the  parlor,  bound  hands  and  feet,  he  had  the 
woman  at  his  command,  and  he  also  had  the  fellow  who 
had  been  acting  as  custodian;  and  he  reasoned  that  if  he 
could  not  go  very  deep  into  the  workings  of  the  mystery 
it  would  be  very  strange. 

The  man  was  a  sullen,  desperate  fellow  as  the  woman 
had  said,  and  he  answered: 

"  You  will  get  nothing  out  of  me." 

Jack  laughed  and  advanced  within  the  vestibule  of  the 
central  room  and  there  he  beheld  a  door  doubly  bolted. 
He  slid  the  bolt  and  stepped  into  the  outer  room,  for  he 
had  been  informed  that  there  were  two  rooms.  He  ad- 
vanced to  the  second  room  and  after  several  raps  a  voice 
inquiied: 

"Who  is  there?" 

"  Are  you  prepared  to  receive  a  visitor?"  demanded  our 
hero. 

"  Who  is  my  visitor?" 

On  the  impulse  of  the  moment  Jack  answered: 

"A  friend  and  messenger  from  your  son." 

"Enter,"  came  the  immediate  invitation. 

The  detective  pressed  the  door  open  and  the  next  instant 
stood  in  a  room  very  comfortably  furnished.  There  was  a 
lamp  on  a  table  and  the  apartment  was  fairly  well  illumi- 
nated, and  standing  by  the  table  was  the  lady  whom  the 
officer  had  seen  just  for  one  moment  the  night  he  was  on 
watch  in  the  parlor — the  woman  who  so  strangely  stood  as 
a  living  counterpart  of  the  portrait.  The  lady  was  cool 
and  self-possessed  and  said : 

"Did  I  understand  you,  sir,  that  you  come  as  a  messen- 
ger from  my  son?" 


'Ill  i  Of1  MA  \N.  bi 

"  Vos,  madam." 

u  I  have  waited  a  long  time.     I  expected  you." 

The  deteelive.  was  really  ama/.od. 

"  Ymi  expected  me:'"  he  .said. 

«]  did." 

••  Ma\   I  ask  on  what  you  based  your  expectations?" 

•;  1   know  that  sooner  or  later  this  great  wrong  would  be 

"  Then  you  are  the  victim  of  a  great  wrong?" 

k-  I  am;  but  who  are  you,  sir?" 

The  detective  decided  that  it  was  better  to  be  frank  and 
explicit  from  the  start  and  he  said : 

"I  am  a  detective  officer." 

"  I  welcome  yon.     Tell  me  about  my  son." 

"I  will,  madam,  but  first  tell  me  about  yourself." 

"Do  yoi,  not  know?" 

"  I  do  not,  and  it  is  necessary  that  I  should  to  enable  me 
to  aid  you." 

"My  story  is  briefly  told.     I  am   Mrs.  Radcliffe.     Mv 
husband   is  dead.     We  had  in  our  family  a  woman  named 
•h." 
•  it  Thomas?" 

"That  is  the  name  she  has  adopted,"  said  the  lady. 

4*  Proceed,  madam." 

u  She  is  a  wicked  and  designing  woman.     She  determined 
to  secure  my  husband's  fortune.     She  resembled  a  strp- 
•;r  of  my  husband  and  sho  determined  to  personate  the 
iad\ 

"  What  is  the  name  of  the  g.-nuine  stepsister?" 

"Thomas." 

"And  where  is  she?"1 

"She  has  been  de:ul   many  year!  and  this  woman  has 

Dilated  her.      She  \vas   present  when  my  husband  died. 

1  wa-'  <>.<  11  believe  fur  a  time  lu.st  my 

on.      \V1  t  found  mvselJ'  a 


92  TSB  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

prisoner,  my  children  had  "been  taken  from  me,  and  I  have 
been  a  prisoner  ever  since." 

"Have  you  ever  heard  from  your  children?" 

"Yes,  Mrs.  Thomas  has  kept  me  informed  concerning 
my  children." 

"Has  she  given  you  exact  information?" 

"I  do  not  know." 

"When  did  you  see  your  children  last?"  1 

"Not  since  the  night  their  father  died." 

This  story  did  not  agree  with  the  statement  of  Anthony 
Radcliffe,  and  we  will  here  state  that  later  on  the  discrep- 
ancy was  fully  explained. 

The  woman  related  a  great  deal  to  the  detective  which 
our  readers  will  have  verified  as  our  narrative  progresses. 
Jack  told  his  story  and  finally  said: 

"  Madam,  you  are  to  leave  this  house  with  me." 

"I  am  ready  to  go." 

"When?" 

"At  once." 

"Prepare  yourself  and  I  will  await  you  outside." 

At  least  thirty  minutes  passed  and  the  woman  appeared, 
and  strangely  enough  was  equipped  for  the  street.  Dur- 
ing the  interval  Jack  had  seen  the  nurse  and  that  woman 
had  also  prepared  herself  for  a  departure. 

Jack  released  the  man  in  the  parlor.  He  had  his  rea- 
sons and  knew  he  could  close  in  on  the  fellow  at  any  time. 

The  detective  took  Mrs.  Eadcliife  to  the  home  of  the 
captain  of  the  precinct.  He  had  arranged  for  this  part  of 
the  programme  and  it  was  daylight  when  he  sought  his 
own  apartment. 

While  Jack  slept  the  sleep  of  a  man  who  had  performed 
a  great  deed,  some  very  stirring  events  occurred.  Mrs. 
Thomas  returned  to  her  homo  just  after  daylight.  She 
entered  the  house;  all  was  still.  She  ascended  to  her  own 
room  and  rang  her  bell.  She  waitfd  and  no  one  answered 


UV.  93 

•   the  nurse's    room  and  then  a 
;ul  her  mind.     She  ascended  the  stairs 
and  «i  monu  i:t   later  dif  the  man  who  Lad  acted  as 

guardian  and  jailer.     The  woman  uttered  a  cry  and  de- 
manded: 

tt  What,  doi'o  this  moan?" 

"  It  means"  answered  tho  man,  "  that  the  other  side  hare 
pla\.  d  a  great  game." 

"  Speak,  explain!"  cried  the  woman. 

"  Your  bird  has  been  stolen  from  you." 

"  How  daie  you?" 

"i  dare  tell  the  truth  any  time." 

"  Will  you  explain  in  plain  language?" 

"  1  will  tell  you  all  1  know  about  it." 

The  man  told  his  story  and  the  woman  moaned: 

"I  have  been  betrayed." 

o,  but.  you  have  been  out-played,  that  is  all.  You 
would  not  take  my  ad  \  ice.  Dead  men  tell  no  tales.  With 
tlie  dead  all  planning  ceases.  You  permitted  your  friends 
to  live,  they  have  been  active  and  vigilant  and  have 
out-played  you,  that's  all." 

••  And  the  woman  has  been  taken  away?" 

"  Yes." 

"And  the  nurse?" 

'k  I  reckon  she  has  been  carried  off  also." 
nd  Goeffi 

"He  may  have  been  in  the  game  against  you,  I  do  not 
know.     I   always    warned    you   against   that    fellow, 
will  you  kindly  release.'  me?      I  hau-  lain  here  a  number  of 
nouis  a.s  you  see  me." 

"It   is   tlie  work   of  that  man  Cas\\vll  Mrs. 

Thou 

it  is  his  work,  no  doubt." 

"  And  we  are  ruined." 

"It  looks  that  way  now." 


94  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

Mrs.  Thomas  released  the  man  arid  bid  him  go  at  once 
for  Theodore  Peale.  An  hour  later  Peale  appeared.  To 
him  the  woman  told  the  story  of  their  disaster  and  he  said: 

"What  else  conld  you  expect?  I  warned  you." 

"What  can  we  do  now?" 
The  man  meditated  a  moment  and  then  said : 

"All  hangs  on  one  life." 

"The  detective?" 

"Yes." 

"What  can  we  do?" 

"You  know  as  well  as  I  do." 

"I  tried  to  do  it.  I  had  arranged  to  have  him  put  out 
of  the  way." 

"Oh,  yes,  in  an  indirect  manner,  and  you  have  failed." 

"What  can  we  do  now?" 

"  He  must  die  at  all  hazards,  or  we  must  make  terms." 

"What  do  you  suspect?" 

"Suspicion  will  not  avail  us  now." 

"Can  he  be  in  communication  with  Anthony?" 

"I  believe  he  is.  Of  course  I  cannot  say  for  certain, 
but  it  looks  that  way." 

"I  have  failed." 

"You  have." 

"Can  you  not  succeed?" 

"I  will  try." 

"Do  so;  we  are  in  great  peril  at  this  moment." 

"  The  fortune  is  in  great  peril.  We  could  deal  with  all 
the  rest  but  this  detective — he  is  a  terror.  I  fear  all  is  lost 
unless  we  can  get  rid  of  him." 

"You  have  money  at  your  command;  act." 

"I  will,  at  once." 

"And  what  shall  I  do?" 

"Remain  here." 

"I  am  liable  to  arrest." 

"$To,  no;  you  need  not  fear.     He  is  not  going  to  make 


any  t  is 

now  itli." 

"  Hr  nui  art." 

:  tool.     Np  could  never  ; 

anything  in  court." 

"  He  has  that,  woman." 

"  Hah :   we  c.an  prove  her  a  lunatic  and  an  impostor.     He 
knows  that." 

"  He  may  produce  Anthony.'' 

"  Wo  have  already  established  his  identity.     No,  no,  the 
game  is  not  lost  yet.     There  is  but  one  incident  that  can 
him  a  'dead  cinch'  on  ns." 

-And  what  is  that?" 

"If  he  should  secure  Susan  Werner  we  are  lost." 

••  Hut  you  forget." 

"  Louise?" 

«  Yes." 

"Bah!  we  can  attend   to  that  end  of  it  all  right,  bat 
•in    Werner   would    prove  fatal.     She    is  a    witness  of 
record.     She  could  recall  her  testimony,  mako  a  fall  con- 
ion  and  the  fortune  would  go  one  way  and  we  the  other 
—  to  jail.     You   can  make    up  your   mind   that  CaswelPs 
objective  point  at  this  moment  is  the  woman  Werner." 

••  He  can  never  find  her." 

"  1  f  he  lives  he  will.     The  whole  scheme  rests  on  his  life. 
We  must  di.-pose  of  him  or  :Mirrend»T,  that's  all." 

M  And  you  will  see  what  you  can  do?" 

"L  will  make  one  ulTort  and  if  1   fail  the  ' 

irrender." 
ite  iii   lli«-    day  when  i.^ucd  forth. 

n<  •  M  up  in  t,  to 

;ty  \\  here   Anthony  Iladci'  hiding. 

nan    he   ;  .perieneu  and  some  time  1 

moth-.  •  n  wen-  : 

Jack  di-.  :iain  with  .M .  .nd  her  son—' 


96  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

he  had  business  on  hand.  He  desired  to  find  Susan  Werner. 
Theodore  Peal 3  had  told  the  truth — without  that  woman 
all  his  efforts  would  prove  of  little  effect. 

Our  readers  may  not  understand  the  situation  and  we  will 
here  state  that  in  following  the  narrative  they  have  fol- 
lowed the  true  facts,  but  here  was  one  side  of  it  only. 
Facts  are  facts,  but  it  is  ofttimes  a  very  hard  task  to 
establish  them  in  court  and  in  most  cases  it  takes  years' 
to  do  so,  even  when  the  truth  is  most  patent  to  every 
impartial  witness.  Jack  had  the  facts,  but  there  were 
decisions  of  the  court  against  the  true  heirs,  and  a  regular 
coup  cVetat  was  needed  in  order  to  establish  the  real  facts 
and  secure  right  to  the  wronged. 

The  detective  began  a  tentative  game.  He  commenced 
to  skirmish  around  for  an  opening.  He  knew  that  the 
Thomas  people  would  attempt  a  bold  and  desperate  game 
and  it  was  his  purpose  to  "get  on  to  their  game,"  as  the 
saying  goes,  and  beat  it.  Night  came  after  a  day  of 
skirmishing.  Jack  learned  a  great  many  facts.  He  had  a 
way  of  "getting  on  to  things" — a  way  of  his  own — and  he 
put  himself  in  the  way  of  the  man  Peale,  whom  he  knew 
was  captain  on  the  other  side.  It  was  along  about  mid- 
night; the  detective  had  about  made  up  his  mind  that  the 
play  for  that  day  was  over,  when  a  young  man  seemingly 
under  the  influence  of  liquor  suddenly  approached  him  and 
said : 

"Hello,  boss." 

"Hello,"  answered  Jack. 

"Come  a  step  with  me,  will  you,  boss?" 

Jack  moved  off  with  the  young  man  and  when  they  were 
some  distance  from  the  glare  of  light  flashing  forth  from 
the  hotel  the  stranger  said : 

"You're  a  cop." 

"Am  I?" 

"Yes." 


Til  \N. 

"How  do  von  ki: 

k'  You  v  10." 

'Ms  that 

«I 

II?" 

"  1  have  something  to  give  yon." 
•  it." 

"  There's  a  great  bunco  game  to  be  played  to-night." 

Jack  pretended  to  be  all  interest. 

"Is  that  so?" 

"Yes." 

"How  did  you  get  on  it?" 

"I  am  the  selected  victim." 

"  You  are?" 

"lam." 

The  detective  laughed  and  the  man  said  suddenly,  per^ 
mitting  a  change  to  come  over  him : 

"  You  think  I  am  under  the  weather." 

"Oh,  no." 

k<  Yes,  you  do." 

"Well?" 

"I've  only  been  playing  it." 

"Oh,  I  see." 

"That's  straight;  I  am  as  clear  as  a  glass  of  ice-water." 

"Good  enough." 

"If  you  will  work  in  with  me  you  can  make  the  best  pull 
ever  made." 

"  I  am  with  you,  honey." 

"  J   am  invited  to  a  house  where  they  are  to  wo:' 
game,  and  I  want  you  to  lay  in  with  me." 

"  I  am  with  you.'1 

"  \Ve  must  invent  an  ;ice." 

"We  can  do  that  easy." 

"Can  you  work  a  transform?" 

"lean." 


$£  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"Come  the  old  countryman  dodge?" 

"lean." 

"Will  you?" 

"I  will." 

"  Meet  me  in  half  an  hour." 

"Where?" 

"Eight  here." 

"In  half  an  hour?" 

"Yes." 

"You  will  be  on  hand?" 

"I  will." 

"  There  is  not  a  scheme  in  this?" 

"  Scheme !"  ejaculated  the  young  man. 

"That  is  what  I  said." 

"I  reckon  you  ain't  in  it.  Good-night,  boss$  I  can  find 
one  of  your  profession  to  go  in  with  me.  I  liked  your  looks 
and  thought  I'd  give  you  the  job.  There's  nothing  in  it 
f  >r  me  only  fun  and  glory." 

"All  right,  get  another  man." 

"You  pull  out?" 

"No,  you  are  throwing  me  out." 

"I'd  like  to  have  you  in  it." 

"Then  talk  right." 

"I've  told  you  all  there  is  in  it  for  me  is  fun  and  glory-" 

"So  they  have  put  up  a  job?" 

"Yes,  and  I  am  to  be  their  victim.  You  see  I've  been 
around  town  a  few  days  throwing  off  the  'stuff'  and  they 
think  I'm  a  soft  victim,  and  I'd  like  to  give  'em  a 
surprise." 

"You  can  do  so." 

"  I  can  and  will,  and  you  can  have  some  of  the  fun  and 
glory." 

"  You  want  me  to  meet  you  here  in  half  an  hour?" 

"Yes." 

"  All  right,  I  am  in  for  the  fun  and  glory.  In  half  an 
hour  I  will  be  here." 


Tiir  young  man  walk.  parations 

to  make.     He  had  ut-lnok    ;  such 

seheme  and  was  well  prepared.      II, •  sauntered  back  to   tho 

red  tho  ivading-roum  and  sill  ing  down  at  a  table 

fiminu'invd    to   thrum  with  his  lingers  on   its  surface.     It 

1   a  simple  and  natural   act,  but  in   that  simple  and 

seemingly  natural  act  lie  was  in   the  most  delinile  manner 

ying  information  to  tho  proper  quarter.     A  ft 
distant  sat  a  business-like  looking  man  reading  a  paper. 
Jle  did   not  raise  his  eyes  from  the  paper,  but  he  took  in 
the  finger  telegraphy  all  the  same,  and  received  the  fullest 
and  most  definite  instructions. 

Having  arranged  that  end  of  it,  the  detective  sain 
to  the  street.     He  passed  down  toward  the  parallel  a 
and  on  the  way  worked  a  complete  transform,  and  on  the 
minute,  one  half  hour  from  tho  time  he  parted  from  the 
man  he  had  made  the  appointment  with,  he  was  on  the 
spot  again,  prepared  for  the  night's  adventure.     He  was 
not  kept  waiting.     The  young  man  showed  up  on  time  and 
said  : 

"I  see  you  are  on  hand." 

"  I  am  on  dock." 

"  You've  worked  it  well." 

"Think  so?" 

"Yes." 

« Do  I  look  old?" 

"Very." 

"Good  enough;  now  wo  are  ready  for  the  steerers." 

•k  We  are." 

The  two  started  along  tho  street  together  and  as  they 
proceeded  the  young  man  said : 

•'  Vv'e  will  have  to  play  this  very  neatly/' 

-Oh,  certainly." 

•*1  have  been  in  tho  house  where  they  are  to  play  me.". 

"All  right," 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"You  see  they  have  been  working  up  this  job  for  some 
time,  and  they  now  think  they  have  everything  down  fine." 

«Isee." 

"I  will  enter  the  house  and  when  they  are  about  ready 
I  will  say  I  have  a  friend  outside  who  wants  to  get  some 
of  the  'queer.'" 

"  Yes,  that  is  a  good  scheme." 

"  I  will  come  out  and  signal  for  you  and  introduce  you  as  a 
friend  from  out  west,  and  once  inside  you  will  watch  the 
game  and  at  the  proper  moment  close  in  on  the  rascals." 

"Yes,  at  the  proper  time  I  will  close  in  on  the  rascals/' 

"We  will  have  a  great  time." 

"You  bet  we  will." 

"It  will  win  great  laurels  for  you." 

"You  bet  it  will,  if  we  are  successful." 

"That  will  depend  upon  you." 

"Oh,  yes,  I  know  it  will." 

The  men  had  proceeded  several  squares  and  finally  the 
guide  stopped  short  and  said: 

"There  is  the  house." 

"All  right." 

Jack  beheld  a  very  respectable-looking  residence. 

"  I  will  go  in  and  in  a  little  time  when  all  is  ready  I  will 
signal  you." 

"I  will  be  on  the  alert." 

The  young  man  left  the  detective  and  ascended  the 
stoop  of  the  house.  He  rang  the  bell.  The  latter  act  was 
a  "guy"  as  the  detective  well  knew. 

The  young  man  was  admitted  into  a  dark  hallway  and  in 
a  low  tone  the  man  who  had  admitted  him  asked: 

"Is  it  all  right?" 

"Yes." 

"Did  he  make  any  objection  to  coming  with  you?" 

"No." 

The  young  man  was  led  into  a  rear  room  where  there 
were  four  men,  and  one  of  them  said: 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN".  101 

"Yon  are  here?" 

"Yes." 

"  Alone?" 
to." 

"  !!«•  is  with  yon?" 

"  \Vaiting  outside  for  a  signal." 

"What  was  your  racket  with  him?" 

"As  you  arranged  it." 

"He  made  no  protest?" 

"He  fell  right  into  the  trap." 

"He  did?" 

"Yes." 

"This  looks  bad,"  said  the  man. 

"It  does?" 

"Yes." 

"How?" 

"  Pel  rather  he  had  been  more  particular.  He  is  a  very 
cantious  man  and  it  looks  as  though  he  was  on  to  the 
game." 

"  You  can  bet  he  is  not.  Your  plan  was  a  dandy  one. 
He  is  just  on  the  jump  to  catch  a  batch  of  'steerers.' " 

"But  he  knows  he  cannot  do  it  alone." 

"He  is  on"  his  guard." 

"You  think  so?" 

"I  know  he  is." 

Another  of  the  men  here  spoke  and  said: 

"It  makes  no  difference;  on  his  guard  or  off  his  guard 
^e've  got  him  the  moment  he  steps  inside  that  door. 
All  it  requires  is  nerve."1 

"lint  suppose  there  are  others  at  his  call?" 

"  lie  will  never  call." 

"  I>ut  they  will  track  him  to  this  house." 

"Suppose  they  do;  they  will  never  find  him." 

"  \Vu  run  great  r; 

•t  the  way  we  have  arranged  it.     If  wo  once  get  him 


102  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

cold  we  can  carry  what  is  left  of  him  away  according  to 
our  plan,,  :  This -house  will  be  deserted,  and  it  will  only 
be  a  mvsterv,  that's  all.  And  we  have  enough  behind  ua 
p  sure." 

The  young  man" who  hacl  acted  as  guide  said: 

"But  here;  there  is  one  thing  you  overlook." 

"What  is  that?" 

"If  he  has  pals  around  I  have  been  spotted." 

"Your  'cover'  was  good." 

"These  men  have  a  way  of  going  under  one's  'cover.'  " 

"You  can  skip." 

"But  my  pay?" 

"You  will  get  it." 

"When?" 

"As  soon  as  the  man's  eyes  are  closed." 

"  I  would  not  go  on  with  this  if  I  thought  I  was  spotted, 
'cover'  or  no  'cover.'  " 

"What  do  you  think?" 

"I  do  not  think  he  is  oil  to  the  game  at  all." 

"Then  we  are  safe." 

"Yes,  that's  my  idea.     Are  yon  all  ready?" 

"Every  man  must  be  at  his  post." 

"When  do  you  strike?" 

"The  moment  he  enters  the  door  a  noose  will  fall  over 
his  head.  It  will  be  drawn  close  and  there  will  follow  a 
few  kicks  and  the  game  is  ours." 

"It's  a  dangerous  undertaking  at  beat." 

"It's  a  dead  sure  game." 

"Suppose  we  fail?" 

"  We  can't  fail." 

The  man  who  was  offering  the  objections  was  evidently 
more  cautious  than  his  companions.  He  evidently  had 
more  experience  and  he  said : 

"You  never  can  tell  about  these  detectives.  We  must 
make  sure." 


101 

"  \V  will  liave  a  report 

ill  a 

•   and  \v;iiU'il,  and  in  the  meantime 

our  In  ;•  the  lion  also  was   waiting,  ami 

u   litli  walking  down    the   street.      He    j 

and  a;  lie  did  so  stumbled  and  full. 

nd  and  picked  the  lad   up,   and  while  doing 

so  in  a  rapid  manner  the  lad  imparted  certain   facts,  mid 

.in-1  his  ftvt  with  the  detective's  aid  walked  oil'  down 

the  street,  limping  as  though  he  had  hurt  himself  as  ho 

fell. 

Jack   meantime  stepped   under   a   gaslight   and   leaned 

•t  the  post  like  a  man  who  was  tired,  but  while  under 

that  post  he  moved   his  hands  several   times  to  his  hat, 

which  lie  removed  and  replaced,  and  at  the  same  time  he 

muttered: 

ateh  a  Xcw  York  weasel  asleep,  eh!     I  guess  not." 
While  the  detective  was  getting  his  report  the  men  in 
the  hack  room  were  receiving  theirs.     A  man  joined  them, 
coming   from   the   rear  yard,  and    upon   his  entrance   the 
evident  leader  of  the  party  asked: 
"Coast  clear?8 
"All  clear." 
"No  one  around?" 
"  No  one." 
"Sure?" 
M  Yes." 

ntlemen,"  said  the  man,  "we  can  now  ipvite  our 
'.n  in." 

Up    to    ihi--    time  the   men  ha  i  .nd   with 

aled,   and    each    physio^n.miv    w-is   of   a   d- 
pallor.      They  appeared  to  full;  :'ul   peril  of 

ere  abott 

.  all  save  th- 
who  had  acted  as  guide. 


104  THE  WITCB.  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"Is  all  ready?"  came  the  question  in  a  hoarse  voice. 

"All  is  ready,"  answered  each  man  successively. 

"There  must  be  no  failure.  If  the  noose  fails  you  all 
know  what  to  do.  It  will  be  our  only  chance." 

"We  appreciate  that  fact,"  said  one. 
>    "You  all  do?" 

"Wedu." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  state  to  our  readers  the  plan  of  tiu. 
assassins.  It  has  been  sufficiently  indicated  in  the 
dialogue  we  have  recorded.  One  fact  was  patent — they 
were  a  desperate  party  of  men,  determined  to  commit  a 
terrible  and  atrocious  crime,  and  all  their  plans  had  been 
carefully  laid,  so  that  it  did  not  appear  that  there  could  be 
a  possibility  of  failure. 

"Our  lives  are  in  it,"  said  the  leader. 

"  Yes,"  came  the  response. 

"If  we  fail  it  will  be  worse  for  us.  Success  will  not 
incur  half  the  risk  that  failure  will,  and  if  we  fail  now  it 
will  be  our  last  chance." 

"  We  cannot  fail;  the  man  is  at  our  mercy."  t 

"We  must  show  no  mercy.  We  are  acting  in  sell- 
defense.  Our  lives  and  liberties  are  at  stake." 

Thus  do  men  who  meditate  crime  appease  their  con- 
sciences, or  seek  to  do  so.  The  leader  said :  "  Our  lives 
and  liberties  are  at  stake."  He  partly  spoke  the  truth, 
but  it  was  their  own  evil  deeds  that  had  imperiled  their 
lives  and  liberties.  Had  they  been  honest  men  they -would 
not  have  been  in  any  danger  at  that  moment. 

"Go,"  said  the  leader,  addressing  the  guide  who  had 
sought  to  lead  our  hero  to  his  death. 

It  was  a  critical  moment.  The  man  started  as  directed, 
and  the  others  arranged  themselves  for  the  carrying  out  of 
their  contemplated  crime,  and  with  a  man  less  cautious 
than  Jack  the  chances  would  have  been  sixty  per  cent 
greater  against  him.  As  it  was  the  detective  was  running 


105 

risk,  althoii.  irnrd   and   to  a  certain   e 

well    ;  ink-ntioiid   and    contemplated 

metl; 

Tin/  v;iun^  man  passed  from  the  house.  Jack  waited 
at  the  point  where  ho  had  been  left.  The  guide  approached 
and  said  in  a  low  tone: 

"It's  our  turn  now." 

"They  are  ready?" 

«  Ves." 

"How  many  are  there  of  them?" 

"There  are  four  of  the  scoundrels." 

"What  excuse  did  you  make?" 

"I  told  them  you  carried  my  money." 

"And  they  let  you  come  for  me?" 

"  Ves." 

"They  expect  me?" 

"  Yes." 

"  They  have  no  suspicion  that  you  are  putting  up  a  job?" 

"No." 

"  Yon  are  sure  of  that?" 
I  am." 

"Remember,  these  fellows  are  worse  than  rats  when 
cornered,  and  if  you  think  we  run  any  risk  you  had  better 
adjourn  the  affair  for  one  night." 

"No,  they  are  ready;  we  are  ready." 

The  man's  voice  trembled  and  the  detective  said: 

"  You  are  losing  heart  already. ' 

"No,  what  makes  you  think  sol"" 

"Your  voice  trembles." 

"I  am  excited." 

"Is  that  all?" 

"  Ves." 

"  I  will  have  to  depend  upon  you  if  it  comes  to  a  fight." 

"You  can." 

"You  will  stand  by  me?" 


106  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN 

"I  will." 

"To  the  bitter  em}?" 

"Yes." 

"All  right,  lead  on,  and  woe  to  you,  my  friend,  if  there 
is  any  trick  attempted  on  me." 

Jack  went  with  the  man  across  the  street.  He  ascended 
the  stoop,  following  his  guide,  and  the  latter  said: 

"I  have  a  night  key;  we  can  go  right  in." 

"All  right." 

"Follow  me  quickly." 

"Sure." 

"There  may  be  some  one  lying  around,  you  know." 

The  latter  was  a  weak  remark.  It  was  evident  the  guide 
was  losing  his  head,  but  as  our  hero  was  well  posted  he 
did  not  question.  But  our  readers  will  observe  his  won- 
derful nerve,  for  despite  all  his  knowledge  and  preparation 
the  chances  were  against  him.  It  takes  but  a  second  to 
kill  a  man  and  sometimes  help  at  hand  can  be  half  a  second 
too  late. 

The  guide  entered  first  and  here  is  where  our  hero  most 
wonderfully  betrayed  his  presence  of  mind  and  coolness. 
He  stumbled  and  fell  against  the  side  of  the  door,  tripped 
on  the  step.  He  caught  himself  and  did  not  fall,  but  he 
gained  a  few  seconds  of  time  and  at  that  moment  a  quarter 
of  a  second  was  a  gain.  He  stepped  inside  the  door, 
which  closed  after  him  with  a  bang,  and  something  fell  over 
his  head.  A  ready  knife  caught  the  rope  on  its  sharp  edge 
and  the  men  that  pulled  fell  in  a  heap,  for  the  rope  wa/ 
severed.  Then  Jack  opened  the  door  and  three  men  who 
might  have  seemed  to  have  risen  from  the  ground  leaped 
into  the  hall.  Two  flashes  from  masked  lanterns  illu- 
minated  the  hall  and  four  men  with  clubs  leaped  forward. 
There  followed  cries  and  blows,  and  in  less  time  than  we 
can  tell  it  five  men  lay  bleeding  and  partly  insensible, 
scattered  around  on  the  hall  floor  and  in  the  two  rooms. 


TU  \N.  107 

The  scheme  had  failed.     Th  pris- 

oners, eo  well  had  he  planned  and  aot»  t.  the  would- 

be  mur<;  I   of  whom   wore  handcnll'ed   and   dragged 

into  the  rear  room  and  planted  in  cjiairs  or  laid  out  on  the 
floor.     The  light  was  turned  on  in  full  and  there  were  the} 
- — safe,  hut  not  sound,  for  every  one  of  them  had 
received  a  crack  on  the  head. 

They  had  tried  their  game  and  like  a  streak  of  lightning 
Nemesis  had  swept  in  the  door,  defeated  and  discomfited 
avery  one  of  them. 

We  will  here  explain  how  Jack  was  so  well  prepared. 
As  has  been  stated,  he  had  all  along  anticipated  some  such 
game  and  he  had  a  lad  at  hand,  a  boy  who  at  some  future 
time  we  will  fully  introduce  to  onr  readers.  This  lad  was 
what  may  be  called  a  little  fiend  in  the  way  of  "piping." 
He  had  his  instructions.  He  was  lying  aronnd  every 
minute  for  any  emergency  and  when  the  youth  arranged 
with  our  hero  for  the  raid  on  the  "steerers"  little  Jim 
Slick  was  at  hand.  He  had  received  a  signal,  and  when 
the  guide  parted  from  our  John,  Jim  fell  to  his  trail.  The 
lad  followed  him  to  the  house  where  the  conspirators  were 
assembled.  He  gained  an  entrance  and  lay  low  until  the 
man  went  again  to  meet  the  detective.  He  overheard 
every  word  spoken  by  the  intended  assassins,  learned  their 
plans  and  intended  mode  of  attack,  and  the  boy  who 
stumbled  and  fell  near  the  waiting  detective  at  a  later 
perionl  was  Jim  Slick.  His  fall  was  a  ruse,  and  while  the 
detective  was  picking  him  up  he  unfolded  the  whole 
scheme,  and  when  Jnck  went  to  the  lamp  post  and  fooled 
with  his  own  hat  lie  was  signaling  to  his  pals  what  to  do. 
His  stumble  at  the  door  was  to  give  his  pals  time,  and  ! 
were  at  hand  and  made  the  rush  in  at  the  proper  mom 
and  thus  our  hero's  counter-play  was  a  success  and  the 
mirderers  were  hadl\ 

Having  the  assassins  at  his  muroy  the  detective  examined 


108  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

3aeh  one  of  them,  seeking  to  find  the  man  whom  he  kne-vf 
had  put  up  the  whole  diabolical  scneme.  Peale  was  not 
among  the  rascals.  He  had  put  up  the  deal,  as  the  men 
say,  but  he  did  not  share  their  dangers.  He  had  selected 
two  desperate  characters,  men  who  for  a  few  dollars  would 
stand  at  nothing.  They  had  secured  the  services  of  two 
others  and  had  laid  the  plan. 

The  question  arose  with  the  detective,  "What  shall  I  do 
with  them?"  He  considered  for  some  time  and  after  tak- 
ing one  of  them  into  a  room  and  putting  him  under  a 
strict  and  searching  cross-examination  he  decided  that  the 
men  were  hired  for  the  one  deed  and  knew  nothing  about 
the  secrets  of  the  arch -schemers. 

Jack  considered  the  whole  matter  well  and  finally  said 
to  the  leader : 

"I've  got  your  mugs;  I  can  put  my  hand  on  any  one  of 
you  when  I  want  you.  I  do  not  want  you  now;  you  can 
go." 

The  five  men  were  released  and  started,  and  the  detec- 
tive muttered : 

"I  wonder  who  this  house  belongs  to?  I  will  investi- 
gate." He  did  investigate,  but  arrived  at  no  satisfactory 
result,  and  finally  said  to  his  men: 

"We  will  leave  the  matter  until  to-morrow." 

All  hands  left  the  house,  and  our  hero  proceeded  to  his 
lodgings,  intending  upon  the  following  day  to  call  upon 
Mrs.  Thomas.  He  ran  down  to  facts  which  he  believed 
would  permit  him  to  work  the  woman  pretty  close  to  a  full 
confession. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Otf  THE  morning  following  his  startling  adventure  he 
proceeded  to  the  old  Eadclifie  residence.  The  house  was 
closed — the  birds  had  evidently  flown. 


IM  109 

As  v,  ,]  tho  as.- 

to  depart,  and    tlu-ir   K:adi-r   according    to   agreement   pro- 
ceeded direct  to  the   JiadrliiTu  hou.-  IK;   hud 
direct                mrt  innneiliately  after  the  death  of 

•minus  and  her  son  were  awaiting  him.  The 
man  entered  their  presence.  He  was  pale  and  laboring 
under  great  excitement,  looked  like  a  man  who  had  com- 
mitted a  murder,  and  the  man  and  woman  who  awaited 
him  also  looked  pale  enough  to  have  been  murderers. 

Fur  a  moment  after  the  man's  entrance  not  a  word  was 
spoken.  Mrs.  Thomas  dared  not  ask  the  question,  neither 
did  her  son,  for  both  knew  how  dire  would  be  the  conse- 
quences in  case  the  diabolically  concocted  scheme  had 
failed. 

"Well?"  at  length  ejaculated  the  man  in  an  interroga- 
tory tone. 

"  You  have  earned  your  reward?"  Mrs.  Thomas  ventured 
to  say. 

"No." 

"  Von  have  failed?" 

"  Yes." 

The  man  spoke  abruptly. 

"He  did  not  appear?" 

"He  appeared." 

"And  yon  failed?" 

u  We  did." 

"He  got  away?" 
•     "No." 

"How  ihenr*' 

"  lit- got  away." 

"  What  do  you  mean?" 

"Just  what 

•:ik,  man!     What  has  happened?" 

"  Have  you  a  game  against  that  man?" 

"We  have  or  we  would  not  have  employed  yoi 


HO  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"Give  it  up." 

"Will  yon  tell  us  what  has  occurred?" 

"  The  men  or  women  do  not  live  who  can  beat  that  man." 

"Will  yo^  speak  and  tell  us  just  what  occurred?" 

"I  will." 

"Do  so." 

The  man  told  his  story  and  added: 

"No  better  scheme  was  ever  arranged,  and  yet  in  some 
way  that  man  got  on  to  it.  No  loophole  was  left  open  for 
him  to  get  information." 

The  woman  and  her  son  exchanged  glances. 

"  We  are  lost,"  said  Mrs.  Thomas. 

"Not  yet,"  answered  the  more  hopeful  Theodore. 

"He  now  knows  our  game." 

"lie  has  known  it  all  along." 

"He  now  has  absolute  proof." 

"  He  has  had  it  all  along.  We  are  paying  the  penalty  of 
ycur  woman's  work  in  calling  a  detective  into  the  affair." 

"  Who  could  foresee  all  this?" 

"  I  certainly  foresaw  it.  I  told  you  the  moment  I  learned 
of  your  move  just  what  we  might  expect.  My  words  have 
been  more  than  verified." 

"  You  appear  to  know  so  much — what  will  be  his  next 
move?" 

« I  cannot  tell." 

"  What  will  be  our  next  move?" 

"  The  game  is  not  lost." 

"What  can  we  do?" 

"Bribe  him." 

The  last  words  were  spoken  after  their  assassin  had  left 
the  room  to  await  instructions. 

"He  cannot  be  bribed,"  said  the  woman. 

"He  can  be." 

"No;  here  I  am  more  farseeing  than  you.  He  has  the 
woman  in  his  charge,  it  is  evident  he  has  Anthony  also  in 


'I    tho 

we  arc  paup- 

'•  \\  M    paupers.      We  will   lie  called  upon  in  pay 

the  penal i  MU  ste-p  backward  for  u«i — -wo  must 

u  And  you  arc  still  hopeful?" 
in/' 

"  What  shall  he  our  next  move?" 

The  man's  face  assumed  the  hue  of  death  as  he  said: 

"We  must  make  sure." 

"Of  what?" 

"The  last  link,"  came  the  answer,  in  a  hoarse  tone. 

*  What  do  you  mean?" 

"Can  you  not  discern?" 

"I  cannot." 

"Susan." 

u  She  is  safe." 

"Not  us  long  as  she  lives.     Let  that  man  once  get  pos- 
session of  her  and  we  are  doomed." 

"  And  what  do  you  prop' 

"  We  tried  to  settle  the  detective." 

"Yes." 

"And  failed." 

"Yes." 

~  We   must  not  fail   when   it  comes  to  settling  8 
Get  her  out  of  the  way  and  we  destroy  all  el, 
They  may  hring  us  into  court 

"The  real  mother " 

"J5ah!   tin-  court  records  are  a-aii 
son,  and  court 

to  dispose  of.     Ti.  All 

OUT    moves    have    befeD     in 

because  of  your  01  We  could 

thing  if  that  detective  lu:«i  o  the  cade 

to  become  our  wo-«t  Nemesis." 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"And  what  can  we  do?" 

"I  have  told  yon ;  but  we  must  vacate  this  house  for  the 
present,  so  as  to  guard  against  all  possibilities." 

"  What  possibilities  do  you  dread?" 

"  All  the  chances  are  against  us  as  it  stands.  We  must 
hide  for  the  present — hide  in  a  respectable  way  of  course/' 

"  Leave  this  house?" 

"  Yes." 

"  That  would  be  an  absolute  confession." 

f(  We  can  confess  as  far  as  that  man  is  concerned.  He 
ksaows  all  and  now  all  he  is  planning  for  is  proofs,  and 
he  will  get  the  proofs  if  he  once  gets  possession  of  Susan 
Werner." 

"  He  will  never  find  her." 

"  We  can  hope  so,  but  we  cannot  tell.  The  man  is  a 
wonder,  lie  is  an  overmatch  for  us.  Just  see  where  we 
are;  we  had  everything  all  safe  and  now  we  are  in  greater 
jeopardy  than  at  any  time  since  we  started  in  to  win  this 
great  fortune.  We  had  it  safe  and  sure,  but,  alas!  your 
infernal  fear  of  Anthony  will  prove  our  ruin." 

"Suppose  they  never  find  Susan?" 

"  They  never  will." 

"And  then " 

"  In  a  little  time  we  can  defy  this  man." 

"But  he  has  the  widow?" 

"Yes." 

"And  the  son?" 

;  Yes." 

"  We  will  still  be  in  peril." 

"  Not  as  long  as  the-  records  of  the  court  stand,  and 
those  records  will  stand  forever.  I  did  not  dream  }ou 
would  ever  invite  a  stranger  into  the  game.  That  was 
your  great  mistake  and  our  ruin,  but  it  is  still  in  our 
hands.  Yes,  let  us  get  Susan  and  Louise  out  of  the  way, 
and  I  will  go  into  court  and  meet  this  man  openly.  He 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAN.  H3 

can  prove  nothing,  and  we  can  put  np  a  job  on  him  in 
time,  and  also  sonic  day  fix  Anthony.  As  to  Mrs.  Radcliffe, 
we  have  nothing  to  fear  from  her.  She  is  a  Junatic;  we 
ran  prove  her  one;  in  that  direction  our  proofs  will  be 
complete.  It  is  Susan;  she  is  their  sure  card;  if  they  get 
possession  of  her  we  are  undone." 

"  What  can  we  do?" 

"  It  is  life  to  life.  She  must  be  removed.  Even  now  1 
believe  she  is  dying.  It  is  only  a  matter  of  a  few  weeks 
with  her  at  best.  All  we  need  do  is  wait.  She  once  in  her 
grave  we  will  be  safe  enough.  We  will  wait  now,  but  we 
have  already  waited  too  long." 

A  little  later  and  mother  and  son  left  the  house.  There 
was  nothing  really  strange  in  their  doing  so — under  ordinary 
circumstances  it  is  a  common  affair  for  people  to  close  their 
houses  and  go  away. 

As  stated,  Jack  had  gone  to  the  Radcliffe  house  and 
had  found  the  people  gone  and  the  house  closed,  and  he 
muttered: 

"  Well,  well,  I  suppose  they  think  they  have  given  me 
the  slip,  but  we  don't  do  business  that  way." 

As  the  detective  spoke  a  satisfied  smile  flitted  across  his 
handsome  face  and  again  he  muttered: 

"I  anticipated  this  move." 

Jack  proceeded  to  a  corner  which  was  a  regular  rendez- 
vous point  for  him.  He  lay  around  for  a  few  moments  and 
then  ejaculated: 

"  Aha!  there  he  comes  and  now  we'll  know." 

A  moment  later  and  Jim  Slick  came  sidling  up  like  a 
snowflake  blown  against  a  fence.  The  lad  was  peculiar  in 
his  movements — very  peculiar — and  as  he  came  up  to  tho 
detective  his  face  was  very  cxpiv^ivi.-  and  he  said: 

"I  have  located  'em.'' 

"  I  thought  so.     Whoii  did  they  flit?" 

"  In  the  early  morning," 


1 14  THE  WITCH  OF  MA  NHA  TTAN. 

"  And  where  are  they  DOW?" 

"In  a  hotel  down  on  West  street.  The  old  woman  is 
tinder  cover/' 

"And  the  man ?" 

"He  is  there." 

"  How  long  ago  did  you  leave  them?"' 

tf  Seventeen  minutes  ago/' 

He  had  located  the  hotel  for  our  hero,  and  Jack 
a"vay,  and  in  less  than  seventeen  minutes  he  had  the 
hotel  under  espionage.  He  recognized  that  Mrs.  Thomas 
had  selected  an  excellent  hiding-place  under  all  the  cir- 
cumstances. The  hotel  was  the  resort  of  country  traders 
who  brought  produce  to  the  city,  and  the  last  place  that 
would  under  ordinary  circumstances  be  selected  for  a  home 
by  other  people. 

The  detective  had  not  lain  around  long  when  he  saw  a 
man  looking  exactly  like  a  farmer  come  forth.  The  man 
lolled  around  for  a  little  time  and  then  re-entered  the  hotel 
reading-room,  and  the  detective  muttered: 

'"  He  is  playing  it  well;  he  might  beat  some  people,  but 
I  am  on  to  him  and  his  scheme/' 

It  was  fully  half  an  hour  before  the  farmer  came  forth 
again,  and  the  detective  saw  him  go  down  toward  the 
Cortlaudt  street  ferry.  Jack  was  under  a  disguise  and  he 
followed.  The  man  passed  into  the  ferryboat  and  Jack 
followed.  When  the  boat  arrived  on  the  Jersey  side  the 
man  ordered  a  hack,  the  detective  also,  and  gave  his  orders, 
and  he  knew  just  how  to  give  orders  under  all  conditions. 
The  hack  containing  the  farmer  was  driven  away  and  after 
half  an  hour's  ride  it  was  halted.  The  farmer  alighted  and 
proceeded  across  the  meadows  afoot. 

"A  good  scheme,"  muttered  the  detective.  He  knows 
he  cannot  be  followed.  I  wish  I  had  ft  flying  machine,  but 
lacking  one  I'll  Meg  it/" 

The  detective  made  a  great  detour  and  he  had  a  hard 


THE  }\  MANHATTAN.  115 

time  of  it,  but  he  crossed  the  meadow  and  reached  the  K 
hard  ground  nearly  half  a  mile  above  the  point  for  which 
the  fanner  was  making,  and  our  hero  remarked: 

••  That  fellow's  looking  behind  him  all  the  time.  He  is 
guarding  against  followers.  That's  wrong  for  him,  but  all 
right  for  me/' 

The  farmer  in  good  time  reached  the  hard  ground  and 
the  detective  commenced  to  act  the  role  of  the  artful 
dodger,  and  he  did  so  well  that  in  good  time  he  saw  the 
farmer  enter  a  house  standing  alone — a  regular  farmhouse, 
a  dilapidated  old  building.  And  it  was  but  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  house  to  the  bay  shore. 

Jack  lay  in  the  brake,  well  contented.,  muttering  to 
timself: 

"It's  all  over." 

The  latter  was  a  favorite  expression  of  the  detective  and 
was  a  term  having  a  great  deal  of  signiGcance.  He  had 
been  lying  low  for  nearly  two  hours  when  he  aaw  the 
farmer  come  out  from  the  house  and  look  out  toward  the 
bay. 

"  Well,  I'll  <>at  my  hat,"  cried  Jack,  "if  he  hasn't 
arranged  this  *ell.  He  expects  a  boat  and  intends  to 
carry  his  prize  away  by  sail;  and  now  what  shall  I  do?" 

The  detective  was  alone.  He  was  brave  and  courageous 
enough,  but  being  so  well  down  on  the  scheme  he  did 
not  wish  at  the  last  moment  to  take  any  chances.  He 
was  assured  of  two  facts.  In  the  tir^t  place  he  had  i 
ognized  the  pretended  farmer  from  the  start — the  man 
was  Theodore  Peale,  and  he  was  equally  cei  tain  that  he 
had  trailed  to  the  hiding  place  of  either  Susan  Werner  or 
the  lovely  girl,  Louise  Radcliffe. 

Jack,  as  intimated,  had  thought  the  matter  all  over  nirl 
his  conclusion  was  that  the  man  Peale  had  been  preparing 
for  this  move  several  days.  He  also  discerned  that  the 
ichemer  would  have  a  boat  lying  oft  in  the  bay  and  possibly 


116  THE  WITCH  OF  MANHA  TTAN. 

he  would  have  on  board  quite  a  crew  of  desperate  fellows. 
There  was  one  possibility  in  the  detective's  favor.  It 
appeared  as  though  Peale  did  not  intend  to  make  the 
removal  until  after  dark,  and  the  detective  calculated  he 
would  have  plenty  of  time  for  his  own  movements.  He 
was  still  on  the  watch  when  he  saw  a  movement  of  the 
grass  behind  him,  as  though  some  animal  was  rooting 
through  the  mire.  Jack  watched,  recognizing  that  the 
beaat  was  making  straight  for  the  spot  where  he  lay  con- 
cealed, and  he  prepared  himself  to  scare  the  object  away, 
when  suddenly  the  movement  ceased;  and  Jack  was  ponder- 
ing over  the  incident  and  finally  drew  his  revolver.  He  was 
a  man  who  did  not  think  he  knew  it  all;  there  was  a  possi- 
bility that  smart  as  he  was  he  had  been  trailed,  and  he  did 
not  mean  to  be  taken  off  his  guard,  and  thus  he  "  lay  low/' 
when  suddenly  a  little  human  head  was  protruded  through 
the  grass,  and  our  hero  ejaculated. 

"Great  Scott!" 

"  I  am  here,"  came  the  announcement. 

"  Yes,   I  see  you  are  here,  Jim,  you  marvel.      What 
brought  you  here?" 

"My  legs." 

"  How  did  you  come?" 

"  I  walked." 

"  What  led  you  to  come?" 

"  Habit.     I  thought  I  might  be  wanted. * 

"  You're  a  jewel,  I  do  want  you." 

"  I  thought  so." 

"  How  did  you  do  it?" 

"  You  left  an  open  trail." 

"I  did?" 

"  You  forget  one  thing." 

"I  do?" 

"Yes." 

"What's  that?" 


I 
777  I  OF  MA  FHA  TTAN.  \ ]  7 

"There  is  Indian  blood  in  me/' 

"  I  should  pay  so." 

"  It  was  an  easy  trail." 

••  And  what  do  you  know?" 
-••thing." 

A'hat  have  you  been  watching?" 
cm." 
•thing  else?" 

"No." 

"  I've  business  for  you." 

"  I  thought  you  would  have." 

"You  thought  right." 

"  What  can  I  do?" 

"  There  is  going  to  be  some  rjoating." 

"  Oh,  that's  it?" 

"Yes." 

"  And  you  want  a  boat?" 

"I  do." 

"  Who  will  sail  her?" 

"  Mr.  Ready." 

"  He's  an  old  sailor?" 

"  He  is. 

"  Where  do  you  want  the  boat?" 

"  Eight  off  there." 

"When?" 

"As  quick  as  she  can  be  brought  around  after  sundown; 
and  I  don's  want  her  far  off  when  the  sun  drops  to  the 
west." 

"All  right,  you  shall  have  your  boat." 

The  dot-  :  ve  the  wonderful   lad  some  further  in- 

structions, and  Jim  Slick  stole  off  through   the  brake  with 
the  snake-like  movement  that  had  brought  him  the: 

When  once  apiin  alone  the  detective  exclaimed: 

"  Well,  that  i,-;  iinrncn.se.  That  lad  is  llie  most  remark- 
able human  being  I  ever  struck.  Hux-  1  am  called 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

der  Jack.  Why,  that  lad  is  a  greater  wonder  than  me, 
a  thousand  times.  I  am  commonplace  compared  to  him. 
I  never  heard  or  read  of  a  being  like  him.  He  appears  to 
read  the  future — not  the  mind,  but  events.  To  think  of 
his  showing  here  at  this  moment!  In  all  his  life  there 
never  was  a  time  when  I  needed  him  as  I  do  now.  and 
here  he  is,  and  there  he  goes  to  carry  out  instructions 
which  will  enable  me  to  close  right  in  on  this  whole  business. 
I'll  have  this  fellow  Peale  a  prisoner." 

It  was  well  on  in  the  afternoon  when  little  Jim  slid 
away,  and  all  the  hours  our  hero  lay  low  until  near  sundown. 
Early  in  the  afternoon  he  had  seen  a  small  schooner 
cruising  off  the  house.  He  had  seen  signals  from  the 
schooner  and  he  knew  they  had  been  answered.  The 
signals  would  never  have  been  noticed  by  one  not 
looking  for  them,  but  Jack  was  looking  for  them  and  his 
watch  was  rewarded  and  he  muttered: 

"  I  went  through  this  scheme  just  right.  That  schooner 
is  in  communication  by  signal  with  that  fellow  Peale. 
Well,  well,  their  game  just  suits  me.  I  want  the  woman 
quietly  smuggled  on  board. " 

As  intimated,  Jack  had  watched  through  the  long  after- 
noon and  he  saw  a  small  tug  go  steaming  away  toward  the 
Staten  Island  ehore  and  he  exclaimed: 

"  There  she  is,  as  sure  as  guns.  Little  Jim  is  a  marvel 
indeed." 

Even  as  the  detective  spoke  he  heard  a  chirp  and  the  next 
instant  little  Jim  came  crawling  to  his  side. 

"She  is  there,"  said  the  boy. 

"  I  Bee  she  is." 

"  You're  hungry,  boss.     I've  brought  you  a  bite." 

Jack  was  indeed  hungry  and  glad  to  get  a  bite,  and 
after  devouring  a  sandwich  he  said: 

"How  is  it?" 

"All  right." 


TIL  AN.  H9 

"  Who  come 

"  Ashley  ;uul    Brown." 
"  Where  arc  they?" 

"  They'll  be  lien4  as  the  sun  goe?  down.    I  thought  you'd 
'.ike  to  be  relieved/' 
-That's  right." 

3  soon  as  the  sun  gets  a  little  lower  you  can  go  aboard 
>ig." 

"  And  that's  all  right." 
"  I  thought  so." 

Sure  enough,  as  soon  as  it  was  dark  Jack  and  Jim  made 
»ur  and  gained   the  water  front,  and  there  was  a  boat 
drawn    up  in   a  little  inlet.     Jack  got  in  and  the  boat  was 
pulled  out,  and  half  an  hour  later  Jack  and  his  pupil  were 
on  the  tug  which  had  run  in  to  take  them  aboard. 
\\Vre  all  right  now,  boss/'  said  Jim. 

u  as  the  lad  spoke  our  hero  saw  that  a  large  yawl 
containing  three  men  had  put  out  from  the  schooner  and 
was  being  pulled  in  toward  the  shore.  The  tug  in  the 
darknes*  was  able  to  run  in  pretty  close,  although  it  was  a 
2! ear  night.  The  detec  ive  was  on  the  watch,  and  by  hia 
side  stood  the  sharp-eyed  little  Jim,  and  the  latter  at  length 
•aid: 

"  They're  pulling  out  to  the  schooner." 
•'  I  Low  many  are  in  the  yawl,  Jim?" 
"I'll   teH   you    in  a   few    moments,"  said   the  lad,  and 
quicker  than  a  Hush  he  slid  overboard  into  the  water.      Ho 
;  like  a  little  cutter.     Jack  would  have  protested, 

.-•he  had  time.     Ten  minutes}1 
a   little   figure,   ca.ne  stalling  along  the  tug  deck  aft  where 

Rid: 

••  I've  got   it." 

••  'i  m  the  schoon 

M   Yi-s.", 
"  T; 


120  TEE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Well,  what  did  you  make  out?" 

"  Two  women  and  four  men  are  in  that  boat.** 

"Two  women  and  four  men?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Three  went  ashore?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Six  are  returning?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Six  will  go  on  board  the  schooner." 

"  They  are  aboard." 

"  Good  enough,  Jim.     It's  all  over." 

The  schooner  set  sail  and  was  gliding  slowly-  -very 
slowly  along,  when  the  tug  made  for  her  and  ran  so  close 
that  people  on  the  schooner  hailed,  saying: 

"Keep  off,  you  are  running  right  into  us." 

The  captain  of  the  tug  paid  no  heed  but  held  his  course, 
and  soon  the  tug  was  right  along  the  sailing  vessel  and 
four  men  leaped  from  the  tug  to  the  former.  At  once 
g'aat  excitement  followed.  One  man  who  had  run  from 
<he  cabin  made  a  rush  toward  the  rail,  intending  to  leap 
overboard,  but  Jack  was  upon  him,  seized  him,  and 
•aid: 

"  No,  no,  Mr.  Peale,  you  can't  swim  away  from  your 
crimes." 

In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell,  it,  the  darbies  were 
clapped  on  the  fellow.  The  rest  of  the  men  on  the 
schooner  offered  no  resistance.  All  hands,  at  least  those 
who  were  on  to  the  game,  saw  that  a  play  had  been  made, 
and  that  it  was  a  losing  game.  The  others  did  not  care,  it 
was  not  their  funeral.  Jack  ran  down  into  the  cabin,  an<3 
a  sight  met  his  gaze  that  caused  his  heart  to  thump.  In  a 
berth  lay  a  pale-faced  woman,  and  reclining  on  a  lounge 
was  a  beautiful  girl.  The  latter  bore  a  remarkable  resem- 
blance to  the  picture  in  the  old  Radcliffe  house. 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN.  121 

Addressing  the  woman  in  the  berth  Jack  said: 

"  You  are  Susan  Werner?" 

"I  am/' 

"  And  you,"  he  said,  addressing  the  beautiful  girl, 
"you  are  Louise  Radcliffe." 

The  girl  did  not  answer,  but  gazed  in  amazement. 

Our  hero  entered  into  full  explanations  and  remained 
with  the  two  females.  A  few  moments  and  he  had  both 
removed  to  the  tug.  He  also  had  Theodore  Peale  carried 
en  board  the  steamer,  which  was  immediately  headed  for 
New  York. 

Our  hero  returned  to  the  ladies  after  the  tug  was  in 
motion  and  he  held  a  long  talk  with  them. 

In  due  time  all  hands  arrived  in  the  city.  Peale  was 
left  on  the  tug  and  Jack  took  the  ladies  to  the  house  of  his 
old  friend  the  captain  of  the  precinct.  A  reunion 
followed,  for  a  message  had  been  sent  to  Anthony  and  he 
was  present  to  greet  his  mother  and  sister.  With  the 
former  he  had  held  several  interviews  previously. 

Jack  in  due  time  sought  his  home,  but  on  the  morning 
following  he  held  a  long  interview  with  Mrs.  Radcliffe  and 
her  children,  and  then  he  proceeded  to  the  hotel  where 
he  knew  Mrs.  Thomas  awaited  news  from  her  son.  He 
gained  the  woman's  room  and  knocked  for  admission.  Mrs. 
Thomas  opened  the  door  in  person,  and  upon  beholding  our 
hero,  for  he  had  thrown  aside  all  disguise,  she  stood  and 
gazed  with  terror  imprinted  upon  every  feature. 

"  Madame,  your  sou  awaits  you." 

"  My  son?" 

"  Yes." 

"Where  is  he?" 

"  Come  with  me." 

All  life,  all  energy  had  deserted  the  woman,  and  ihe 
Buid: 

"He  is  in  jail?" 


THE  WITCH  OF  MANHATTAN. 


"  You  will  lead  me  to  him?" 

"I  will." 

"Is  he  injured?" 

"No." 

A  little  later,  and  the  woman  entered  a,  carriage  with 
the  detective  and  both  were  driven  to  the  dock  and  soon 
went  on  board  the  tug,  and  mother  and  son  stood  face  to 
face. 

Indeed  it  was  all  over.  Both  realized  it,  both  were  dis- 
posed to  make  a  complete  surrender. 

A  month  later  the  courts  had  passed  upon  the  matter. 
The  confession  of  Susan  Werner  was  sufficient.  Anthony 
became  the  heir,  the  sole  heir,  under  a  will,  and  the 
daughter  did  not  figure  in  the  proceedings.  The  reason 
for  his  beiug  the  sole  heir  was  explained  in  the  will. 

Susan  Werner  was  convicted  and  pardoned  at  once. 
Mrs.  Thomas  and  her  son  were  permitted  to  go  free,  for 
their  discomfiture  was  so  complete  the  real  heirs  did  not 
choose  to  prosecute,  but  permitted  it  to  be  assumed  that 
all  was  the  result  of  a  series  of  blunders.  Jack  was  largely 
rewarded  on  having  done  so  well.  He  bid  his  friends 
adieu  and  started  for  SHU  Francisco,  where  he  hoped  to 
meet  the  girl  for  whom  he  stole  the  loaf  of  bread,  and 
some  day  we  will  relate  his  wonderful  and  romantia 
adventures  in  the  Golden  State. 


THE  END. 


"OLD  SLEUTH'S  OWN"  SERIES, 

Etch  boofc  fa  the  following  list  is  written  by  that  fcw&oi  writer  "Old 
Sleuth,"  and  is  for  2  i!o  by  every  atvadcabr  for  10  o*ats,  or  they  will  be 
lent  t y  mail,  postpaid,  for  10  centc  each,  or  six  books  for  60  ots.  Addreii 
Oil  orders  to  J.  8.  CGIL7IE  PUBLISHING  CO,,67BoidSt.tKew?ork- 


,  JO— Yankee  Rue,  the  Ex-Pugilist  Detoctive. 
11— Cool  Tom,  the  Sailor  Boy  Dotoctlvo. 
12— Aggravating  J  oo,  the  Prince  of  Fun  and  Mischief. 
1 3— A  Clever  Boy  Selective.   A  Tale  of  Magio  and  Ventrfloqaism. 
14— A  League  of  Tltree;  or,  A  Boy's  Detectivo  Btrataeemu. 
16—  Woodehnclt  Jerry;  or.  The  Terror  of  the  Town. 
10— A  Straight-out  Detective  ;  or.  New  York  under  a  FlastUsht.  A 

Tale  of  Wonderful  Incidents. 

17— Three  I.titlo  Trnmpa;  or  Footing  It  to  the  \7eet. 
18— The  I/ittle  Colonel;  or, Fun  in  a^d  Around  Boa  Serpent 
19— Jack  the  Juggier;  or  the  Wonderful  Boy  Hypaot 
80— The  Runaway  ;  or,  How  ITe  Get  into  West  Point. 
81—  The  Three  Boy  Detectives;  or,  The  Story  of  Threo 

Country  Lada. 

22 — Yonns  Ginger;  or  Fun  in  and  Around  New  York. 
23— Snap  and  Jenny,  the  Song  a«d  Dance  ArSitts. 
24— Bicycle  Jim  ;  or,  A  Smart  Boy  Deteetivo. 
25— A  Littlo  Cowboy  in  New  York  5  or,  In  Search  of  Hia  Dad. 
5  6— Archie  the  Tumbler ;  or.  How  He  Became  a  Great  Jockey. 
5?7— Flyaway  Ned;  or.  The  Old  Detective's  Pupil. 
23-Preston  Jayne;  or,  In  Search  of  His  Dad. 
29— *«Bn  die  "Dunne,  the  Exquisite  Dctectira. 
80— A  Little  Giant ;  or,  The  Feats  and  Frolics  of  an  Athlete 
81-A  Young  Al&adin;  or,  The  Old  Miser's  Ward. 
8S~The  Duko  of  Oniafcr.;  or,  The  Adventures  of  a  Littlo  Giant. 
83— Kefton  The  Detective  ;  or.  Tho  bonder  of  th»  Age.    A  Genuin* 

-  C  Id-Time  "  Detective  Tale. 

8  V-Billy  the  Tramp;  or,  The  Hreter?  of  a  little  Boater 
£o— A  Cute  Boy  Detective  ;  or,  Maerio  Dick's  Phenomenal  Trail. 
&G— The  Prince  of  Ventriloquiata;  or.  Nimble  Ike's  Greatest  Triok% 
ST— Cad   UXettl,   the   Female  Defective   SiratrgSat. 
88— A  Wonderful  Detoctive;  or  Magic  Dick's  Greatest  Shadow. 
89— Resolute  Jack  ;  or,  UPS  and  Downs  in  New  York. 
40— Little  Deed  Sure.  ;  or.  The  Seer  AM 

41— The  Twin  Ventriloquist*;  or  If  Imble  Ike  and  Jack  the  Juggler. 
42— Amzl  the  Detective;  or,  Moruing.  Noon  and  Night  la  Mew  York- 
43— Tracked  on  a  Wheel;  or,  Bicycle  Jim's  Great  Chasd. 
44— Cr a«oe  Harry;  or,  The  T 

4o—  A  Terrible  Youth;  or,  Magic  Di,  .  ra«  la  Purl* 

4(3— A  Golden  Legacy;  k. 

47— The  Kf  ng  t  PraoJjg. 

48— Arlie  K£ r lr  h  t ;  or.  How  He  Became  a  NavAl  Oad»U 
or.  Adriltiul\dw  ^ork* 


"6LD  SLEUTH'S  OWN"  SERIES. 


book  in  tLe  following  list  is  Mmttea  by  tliat  famous  writer  w  014 
Elsnti,"  and  is  for  sala  by  every  newsdealer  for  10  osnts,  or  thay  will  be 
esnt  by  mail,  postpaid,  for  10  cents  sac!il  or  six  books  for  50  cts.  Address 
&11  orders  to  J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  CO.,  57  Eose  St.,  New  Y«r& 


S0-~Ni3Jable  Ifee's  Mystery  ;  or,  The  Secret  of  the  Box. 
61— TTtee  lilt  tie  Miner  ;  or,  A  Poor  Boy's  Great  Find. 
651— A  Boy  Fugitive;  or,  Fooling  Eis  Pursuers. 
53— Tlie  Mechanic's  So n ;  or.  From  Penury  to  Wealth. 
54— Triclcs  and  Trlnaiphs;  or,  Jack  the  Juggler's  Ordeal. 
55— The  YOHHS  Engineer ;  or,  Makiog  Her  Spin. 
66-vDetective  Hanley  ;  or,  The  Testimony  of  a  Face. 
67—  Nimble  fike's  Romance  ;  or.  The  Mysteries  of  a  Cavern. 
68— Gipsy  JBeno,  The  Detective. 
59—  Selective  Gay;  or,  The  King  of  Disguises. 
60— A  Feinala  Ventriloquist ;  or.  A  Pretty  Girl's  Magic  Feats. 
61— His  Greatest «« Shadow :»  or.  Jack  the  Juggler's  Last  Trail. 
62— Lorle;  or,  The  Phantom  Ventriloquist, 
63—  The  Two  Conspirators  ;  or,  A  Great  Surprise. 
64— Detective  Kennedy ;  or,  Always  Beady. 
6/i -Malcolm  the  Wonder.    > 
66— Jack  Breakaway ;  or,  Always  on  Top. 
67— Weaver  "Webb ;  or,  The  Young  Champion. 
68— Plucky  Bob;  or,  The  Wildest  Boy  in  The  Land. 
69— Jolly  Jese;  or,  The  Boy  Who  Won  a  Princess, 
90— A  "jTen  Bay  Mystery;  or,  the  Wonder's  Shadow  in  New  York, 
71 -A  Great  Boy;  or,  The  Find  of  a  Million. 
•72— Creco  tfee  Swordsman  ;  or,  The  Man  of  Mystery. 
73—  XisigBley  tlie  Detective;  or.  The  Single  Clue. 
74— A  detective's  Enigma ;  or,  Malcolm  Weir's  PuzzHng  "  Shadow." 
76— A  Plucky  Girl ;  or,  A  Farmer's  Daughter  in  New  York. 
76— Days  and  Nigb-ts  of  Peril ;  or,  Nimble  Ike  In  Harness  Again. 
77 — Carrol  Moore ;  or,  How  He  Became  a  Detective. 
78— Grant  McKLenzIe ;  or.  a  Boy's  Battles  and  Struggles. 
79— Breezy  Frank;  or.  A  Great  Disguise. 

SO— Zantelll;  or,  A  wonderful  Pursuit.    A  Romantic  Detective  Storfi 
81— "  Straight  to  the  Ularb  ;"  A  Detective's  Trick. 
82— Young  Bash;  or,  The  Detective's  Apprentice. 
S3— life  in  N  ew  York.    A  Thrilling  Detective  Tale. 
84— On  the  Wing;  or.  Detective  Bird's  Great  Capture. 
85— Under  a  Veil ;  or,  His  Greatest  Mystery.    A  Detective 
86— A  Straight  Clue  ;  or,  Malcolm  Weir's  Great  Feat. 
87— detective  Payne;  or*  A  Shadower's  Wonderful  Adventures. 
88— A  Famous  Boy ;  or.  The  Story  of  a  Homeless  Hero. 
89— A  Great  Capture ;  or.  New  Tactics  in  Detective  Work* 
90 — Desznond  Dare ;  or,  Taking  Desperate  Chances. 
91— The  Wizard  Tramp.    A  Thrilling  Detective  Story. 
Cb.au.ee;  or*  The  Wls&sd  Tramp's 


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*  5— A  llomarkable  "  Shadow ;« or,  Detective  Payne's  Tragic  Quest. 

94— Dead  Straight;  or,  Harlow  Jack's  Life  Mystery. 

95- -  Allio  Baird,  the  Settler's  Son.  A  Weird  Tale  of  the  Wilderness. 

gG-Creitou,  the  Detective ;  or.  Following  a  Light  Clue. 

01  -JWarl*  «ha  Syncing  GSr3.    A  Great  Story  of  New  York  Life. 

88  -A  Clowe  Call;  or,  Detective  Mead's  Dilemma. 

09    You  MS  Vigilance  ;  or,  A  Broken  Link.   A  Detective  Narratiye. 

lOO^A  Daelaing  Fugitive  ;  or,  Tnio  to  His  Purpose. 

1 01  — Clycle,  the  Resolute  Detective ;  or,  His  Own  Mystery. 

102— lively  Lnke ;  or,  Keen  as  a  Eazor. 

jftily  Preston ;  or.  Ready  f or  Anything. 
I  Ol--Tho  Twin  Athletes ;  or,  Always  on  Top. 
1 05— Sctli  Rond ;  or,  A  Lost  Treasure  Mystery. 

106— Jacli  and  Gil;  or,  The  Wonderful  Adventures  of  Two  Acrobat*. 
1 07— Tl»«s  King's  Detective ;  or,  A  Now  York  Detective's  Great  Quest. 
1O8— A  Remarkable  Feat;  or,  Jack  and  Gil's  Great  Detective  Work. 
1 09— Tom,  the  Yonng  Explorer ;  or,  A  Magnificent  Reward. 
110— Two  "Wonderful  Dotoctivce;  or,  Jack  and  Gil's  Skill. 
1 1 1— A  Mystery  of  One  Night ;  or,  Detective  Murray's  Single  Clue. 
1  ia-A  Succesoful  "  Shadow ; "  or,  Jack  and  Gil's  Greatest  Oatoh. 
1 13— A  Beautiful  Fugitivo ;  or  Saved  by  a  Detective. 
1 1 4—  The  Mancrdale  Mystery.    A  Strong  Detective  Story. 
1 J  5— OTho  Central  Park  Mystery ;  or,  Detective  Work  in  Netf  York. 
1 16— Detective  Dale  5  or  Con.  timouies. 

1 1 7— A  Strug, sle  to  TVln ;  or.  A  Gypsy  Boy's  Secret. 
118— Thrifty  Abe;  or,  From  the  Bottom  to  the  Top. 
U9--Krruifcay,  the  Detective. 
120 — Glpvcy  Hoae*  the  Female  Detective. 
121  -  Young  Harold  ;  A  New  Er.claud  Boy's  Adventures. ) 
12*— Norval,  the  Detective;  or.  Dodging  and  lliding.  / 

<.~ocing  Cbanncev. 
I  id-Daring  Maddte;  A  Groat  Detective  Story. 

Red  Cecil,  the  Detective* 
126— A  Detective'*  Daughter. 

127  -I  ire  Bomb  Jack ;  or,  Freaks  of  a  Mystery  Man. 
128—  An  Amazing  Wizard ;  or,  Th  iauce. 

urvfclousKoc? 
130— Only  aPho?o;;raph;  c  .pton'aC^uec^^ 

•>  Tragic  Qu«i»X ;  or,  A  JL*. 
132-V»vel.     TLo  \V 
I3i-  B-ozuttUcc  ol  e  Salvation  Array  Girl* 


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To  W.  HANSHEW  13  the  author,  and  a  writer  of 
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Eureka  Detective  Series. 

All  of  the  "books  in  the  Eureka  Series 
(1  each  one 
eived 

1 .    Ask  for 
the  Eureka  Series  detective  boc>: 


Inspector  Henderson,  the  Central 
Of tice  Detective.  By  H.  I.  H« 
Mis  Evil  Eye.     By  H.  I.  Han 
Detective    Johnson    of    Men, 
Orleans.     By  Uarrie  I.  Hancock, 
liarry  Btouut,  the  Detective.     By 

T.  J.  Flanagan. 

Kar«-y  Sharpe,  the  New  York  De- 
tective.    By  H.  Rockwood. 

6  Private  Detective  No.  39.    By  John  W.  Postgate. 

7  Not  Guilty.    By  the  author  of  "  The  Original  Mr.  Jacobs." 

8  A  Confederate  Spy.    By  Capt.  Thos.  N.  Conrad. 

9  A  Study  la  Scarlet.    By  A.  Couaii  Doyle. 

10  The  UnwlHing  Bride.    By  Fergus  W.  Hume. 

1 1  The  flan  Who  V  inished.    By  Fergus  W.  Hume. 

12  The  Lone  Inn.    By  Fergus  W.  Hume. 

13  The  World's  Finger.     By.  T.  Hanshew. 

14  Tour  of 'the  World  ici  Eighty  Days.    By  Jules  Verne. 

15  The  Frozen  Pirate.    By  W.  Clark  Russell. 

16  Mystery  of  a  Hansom  Cab.    By  Fergus  W.  Hume. 

17  A  Close  Call.     By  J.  L.  Berry, 

18  No.  99 ;  A  Detective  Story.    By  Arthur  Griffith. 

19  The  Sign  of  the  Four.    By  A.  Conan  Doyle. 

20  The  flystery  of  the  flontauk  mils.    By  E.  L.  Ooolidge. 

21  The  Mountain  Limited.    By  E.  L.  Coolidge. 

22  Gilt-E(!ge  Tom,  Conductor.    By  E.  L.  Coolidge. 

23  The  Mossbank  Murder.    By  Harry  Mills. 

24  The  Woman  Stealer.     A  Romance  of  California.  H.  Mills. 

25  King  Dan,  the  Factory  Detective.     By  G.  W.  Goode. 

26  A  Rogue's  Life.    By  Wilkie  Collins. 

27  The  King's  Talisman.    By  Sylvaims  Cobb,  Jr. 

28  The  Double  Duel.    By  Sylvaims  Cobb,  Jr. 

29  The  Captive  Bride.    By  Sylvanus  Cobb,  Jr. 

30  A  Dark  Plot.     By  Sylvanus  Cobb,  Jr. 

31  The  O!<!  Hill  Hystery.    By  iort. 

32  Five  Sherlock  Holmes  Stories.    }u  A.  Oonan  Doyle, 

33  The  Han  in  Black.    By  {Stanley  J.  V 

34  The  Famous  Bat-dick  Case. 

35  flystery  No.   13. 

36  Macon  "Moore,  the  Southern  Detective.  By  J.  R.  T 
You  can  obtain  t' 

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or  any  five  for  $1.00.    Address  all . 

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F 


IVE  SHERLOCK  HOLflES 

DETECTIVE  STORIES. 

By  A.  CONAN  DOYLE. 

We  have  just  published,  in  ONE  VOLUME,  bound  u 
paper  cover,  the  following  FIVE  best  stories  by  him 


1.  THE  REB-HEABEB 

2.  A  CASE  OF  IDENTITY. 

3.  A  SCANBAL  IN  BOHEMIA. 

4.  THAT  LITTLE  SQUARE  BOX. 

5.  JOHN  BARRINGTON  COWLES< 

This  book  contains  192  pages, 
and  is  bound  in  heavy  paper  cover 
vviili  attractive  illustration,  the 
same  as  shown  in  the  cut  herewith. 
Everybody  who  reads  is  familiar 

with  SHERLOCK  HOLMES. 

There  is  not  a  writer  living  at  the 
present  time  whose  work  can  be  compared  with  thai 
of  the  author  of  this  famous  character,  for  intense  in- 
terest clear-cut  narrative,  and  delicate  detail. 

The  above  book  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  te 
any  address,  upon  receipt  of  25  cents. 

"Wo  also  publish  the  following  books  by  the  same 
author,  each  having  the  same  attractive  cover  as 
shown  in  above  illustration  : 

SHERLOCK  HOLMES.        A  STUDY  IN  SCARLET 
$£YONU  THE  CITY.          MICAH  CLARKE. 
THE  S!GN  OF  THE  FOUR. 

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pg/id,  for  25  cents.  Address  all  orders  to 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  FUBLISEX?>T&  COMPANY, 
67  EOSE  S2KEET,  FEW 


KING  DAN),  THE 

FACTORY  DETECTIV& 


Eureka  Detective  Series. 

All  of  the  books  in  the  Eureka  Series 

are  clever  detective  stories,  and  each  one 
of  those  mentioned  below  has  received 
the  heartiest  recommendation.  Ask  for 
the  Eureka  Series  detective  books. 

Inspector  Henderson,  the  Central 
Office  Detective.  By  H.  I.  Hancock. 
His  Evil  Eye.     By  H.  I.  Hancock. 
Detective    Johnson    of    New 
Orleans.    By  Harrie  I.  Hancock. 
Harry  Blount,  the  Detective.     By 

T.  J.  Flanagan. 

Harry  Sharpe,  the  New  York  De- 
tective.   By  H.  Rockwood. 

6  Private  Detective  No.  39.    By  John  W.  Postgate. 

7  Not  Guilty.     By  the  author  of  "  The  Original  Mr.  Jacobs." 

8  A  Confederate  Spy.    By  Capt.  Thos.  N.  Conrad. 

9  A  Study  in  Scarlet.    By  A.  Conan  Doyle. 

10  The  Unwilling  Bride.    By  Fergus  W.  Hume. 

11  The  Han  Who  Vanished.    By  Fergus  W.  Hume. 

12  The  Lone  Inn.    By  Fergus  W.  Hume. 

13  The  World's  Finger.    By.  T.  Hanshew. 

14  Tour  of 'the  World  in  Eighty  Days.    By  Jules  Yerne. 

15  The  Frozen  Pirate.    By  W.  Clark  Russell. 

16  Mystery  of  a  Hansom  Cab.    By  Fergus  W.  Hume. 

17  A  Close  Call.    By  J.  L.  Berry, 

18  No.  99;  A  Detective  Story.    By  Arthur  Griffith. 

19  The  Sign  of  the  Four.    By  A.  Conan  Doyle. 

20  The  riystery  of  the  Hontauk  mils.    By  E.  L.  Coolidge. 

21  The  Mountain  Limited.    By  E.  L.  Coolidge. 

22  Gilt=Edge  Tom,  Conductor.    By  E.  L.  Coolidge. 

23  The  Mossbank  Murder.    By  Harry  Mills. 

24  The  Woman  Stealer.    A  Romance  of  California.  H.  MilK 

25  King  Dan,  the  Factory  Detective.     By  G.  W.  Goode. 

26  A  Rogue's  Life.    By  Wilkie  Collins. 

27  The  King's  Talisman.    By  Sylvanus  Cobb,  Jr. 

28  The  Double  Duel.    By  Sylvanus  Cobb,  Jr. 

29  The  Captive  Bride.    By  Sylvanus  Cobb,  Jr. 

30  A  Dark  Plot.     By  Sylvanus  Cobb,  Jr. 

31  The  Old  Hill  flystery.    By  A.  W.  Marchmont. 

32  Five  Sherlock  Holmes  Stories.    By  A.  Conan  Doyle. 

33  The  Han  in  Black.    By  Stanley  J.  Weyman. 

34  The  Famous  Burdick  Case. 

35  riystery  No.  13.    By  Helen  B.  Mathers. 

36  Macon  Moore,  the  Southern  Detective.  By  J.  R.  Taylor. 
You  can  obtain  the  Eureka  Series  books  where  you  bought 

this  one,  or  we  will  mail  them  to  you,  postpaid,  for  25  cents  each9 
or  any  five  for  $1.00.    Address  all  orders  to 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
P.O. Bos  767.  57  EOSE  STREET.  NEW  YORE. 


Stockton,  Calif. 
TAT.  UN.  21.  1908 


933346 


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